Healthy Aging Research

Members

Theme Leader :
Hiroshi Murayama, R.N., P.H.N., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Researcher:
Kumiko Nonaka, Ph.D., Yu Nofuji, Ph.D., Yuri Yokoyama, R.D., Ph.D., Takayuki Ueno, R.N., Ph.D.
Associate Researcher:
Hidenori Amano, M.H.S.
Adjunct Researcher:
Takumi Abe, Naoko Saito, Takumi Suda, Yuka Nakamura,
Adjunct Staff:
Yumi Arai, Shiina Chiaki, Emiko Nishimura, Karen Hosoi

Keywords

Healthy aging, Frailty prevention, Health promotion, Social participation, Employment, Social environment, Health disparity, Health indifference, Epidemiological study, Community intervention

Major Research Titles

Healthy aging is defined as living an independent life while maintaining physical, mental, and social functions. We aim to generate evidence for the establishment of a social system that promotes healthy aging, particularly primary prevention of frailty and dementia.

To achieve these goals, we established three pillars of research:

  1. Basic research: Epidemiological research for long-term care and frailty prevention
  2. Applied research: Verification of methods for long-term care and frailty prevention
  3. Challenging research: Investigation of approaches toward difficult-to-reach populations

Profile

1.Basic research: Epidemiological research for long-term care and frailty prevention

We manage several longitudinal cohorts of older adults. Data from the cohort studies are used to conduct epidemiological research on the three pillars of frailty prevention: physical activity, nutrition, and social participation. We also examine individual and environmental factors that promote or inhibit the implementation of strategies that target the three pillars. By collaborating with the local governments, we can approach many regions with different characteristics. This will enable us to disseminate knowledge and implement strategies in diverse regions.

2. Applied research: Verification of methods for long-term care and frailty prevention

We are engaged in the development and implementation of social systems for frailty prevention through community building. The aim of this research theme is to create new opportunities for the employment of older adults. To apply the knowledge accumulated from the studies focused on the three pillars of frailty prevention, we conduct research in both community and workplace.

3. Challenging research: Investigation of approaches toward difficult-to-reach populations

This research theme targets difficult-to-reach populations identified in previous research and practice activities. To achieve healthy aging, we conduct research to develop approaches for promoting changes in awareness and behavior among socially isolated people and health-indifferent populations.

Research Fields

We have conducted epidemiological studies (cohort studies) and field surveys in various parts of Japan, in collaboration with local municipalities.

Kusatsu Study (Kusatsu Town, Gunma)

In 2001, we established a collaborative research agreement with the town of Kusatsu and began to collect data through yearly health checkups for residents 65 years and older (the Kusatsu Longitudinal Study). Moreover, we conducted surveys for individuals who did not receive the health checkups once every three years to understand the health status of all older adults in the town. We also collected data regarding outcomes (i.e., death, transfer), need for long-term care certification, and medical/long-term care expenses and combined this information with data from the health checkups and overall surveys. These strategies have enabled an extensive longitudinal analysis. Our study, spanning nearly 20 years, is among the longest studies performed exclusively among older adults in the country.

Representative article

Shinkai S, Yoshida H, Taniguchi Y, Murayama H, Nishi M, Amano H, Nofuji Y, Seino S, Fujiwara Y. Public health approach to preventing frailty in the community and its effect on healthy aging in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; Suppl 1:87-97.

List of research papers from the Kusatsu Study

Hatoyama Study (Hatoyama Town, Saitama)

Since the beginning of 2001, we have been conducting social activity surveys and intervention research regarding the training of community welfare volunteers. In 2010, we signed a collaborative research agreement with the town of Hatoyama and began a cohort study of a stratified random sample of residents between 65 and 84 years of age (the Hatoyama Cohort Study). From 2010 to 2018, we conducted health checkups, home visit health checkups, self-administered questionnaire surveys, and multifactorial intervention for preventing frailty. In addition to the cohort study, we conducted questionnaire surveys for all residents aged 65 and over in the town (approximately 5,000 people) in 2018, 2020, and 2023. We also collected data on outcomes (i.e., death, transfer), need for long-term care certification, and medical/long-term care expenses; evaluated measures for the prevention of long-term care; and conducted epidemiological studies to identify risk factors regarding frailty and the need for long-term care.

Representative article (Profile of the Hatoyama Cohort Study)

Murayama H, Nishi M, Shimizu Y, Kim MJ, Yoshida H, Amano H, Fujiwara Y, Shinkai S. The Hatoyama Cohort Study: Design and profile of participants at baseline. J Epidemiol 2012; 22(6): 551-558.

List of research papers from the Hatoyama Study

Yabu Study (Yabu City, Hyogo)

Under a cooperative agreement with Yabu City, we have been conducting mailed questionnaire surveys for all residents in Yabu City aged 65 and over every five years since 2012, linking these data with data on outcomes (i.e., death, transfer), need for long-term care certification, and medical/long-term care expenses. Since 2014, we have been conducting a practical study aimed at creating a community for frailty prevention and evaluating its effectiveness by using the longitudinal data we have constructed.

Representative article (Profile of the Yabu Cohort Study)

Murayama H, Nofuji Y, Matsuo E, Nishi M, Taniguchi Y, Fujiwara Y, Shinkai S. The Yabu Cohort Study: Design and profile of participants at baseline. J Epidemiol 2014; 24(6): 519-525.

List of research papers from the Yabu Study

Wako Study (Wako City, Saitama)

Under a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Wako City, the Wako Cohort Study was started in 2023, targeting community-dwelling adults aged ≥40 years in Wako City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The Wako Cohort Study consists of two surveys: a mail-in survey for persons aged ≥40 years and a face-to-face assessment (on-site survey) for those aged ≥65 years. In the mailed-in survey, approximately 2,700 people aged 40-64 years and 7,100 people aged 65 years and over participated, and, in the on-site survey, approximately 1,000 people aged 65 years and over participated. In the future, follow-up surveys will be conducted using mortality and long-term care insurance information to examine factors that contribute to the achievement of healthy aging.

Representative article (Profile of the Wako Cohort Study)

Yokoyama Y, Nofuji Y, Abe T, Nonaka K, Ozone Y, Nakamura Y, Chiaki S, Suda T, Saito N, Takase M, Amano H, Ogawa S, Suzuki H, Murayama H. The Wako Cohort Study: Design and profile of participants at baseline. J Epidemiol. (in press)

List of research papers from the Wako Study （under construction）

Kesennuma Study (Kesennuma City, Miyagi)

In November 2018, we established a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Kesennuma City and have been working together on community development for health and longevity. In 2019, our research team conducted a community diagnosis through a self-administered questionnaire survey of 10,000 older adults living in Kesennuma City (the Kesennuma Cohort Study). On the basis of the results of this survey, we will work with the local government and community residents to increase the places older adults regularly visit to improve their functioning. The results of these efforts will be verified in the future.

Representative article (Profile of the Kesennuma Cohort Study)

Yamashita M, Seino S, Nofuji Y, Sugawara Y, Osuka Y, Kitamura A, Shinkai S. The Kesennuma Study in Miyagi, Japan: Study design and baseline profiles of participants. J Epidemiol 2022; 32(12): 559-566.

List of research papers from the Kesennuma Study

References (year of 2024)

The list of publications before 2023 was included on the website of our research team.

  1. Murayama H, Nakamoto I, Takase M, Sagara T, Sugiura K, Higashi K, Fujiwara Y. Older assistant care workers as late-life employment in Japan: Perceived benefits from work and emotional exhaustion. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024; 24(Suppl 1): 415-417.
  2. Murayama H, Iizuka A, Machida M, Amagasa S, Inoue S, Fujiwara T, Shobugawa. Impact of social isolation on change in brain volume in community-dwelling older Japanese people: The NEIGE Study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. (in press)
  3. Murayama H, Suda T, Nakamoto I, Tabuchi T. Exploring the association of social isolation and loneliness on the experience of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization in the Japanese population: The JACSIS study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. (in press)
  4. Murayama H, Komazawa Y, Kakizaki M, Fukuda Y, Tabuchi T. Economic recession and mental health distress among Japanese people in middle age. Sci Rep. (in press)
  5. Murayama H, Sugiyama M, Inagaki H, Edahiro A, Miyamae F, Ura C, Motokawa K, Okamura T, Awata S. Community social capital and all-cause mortality in Japan: Findings from the Adachi Cohort Study. J Epidemiol. (in press)
  6. Murayama H, Suda T, Nakamoto I. Distribution and Determinants of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Adulthood and Old Age: A Literature Review. Iryou to Shakai. 2024; 34(1): 13-24. [In Japanese]
  7. Nonaka K, Takase M, Sugiura K, Murayama H. Introducing a Japanese form of Pro Bono as a way to foster cooperation between the working generation and community-based organizations. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024; 24(Suppl 1): 401-402.
  8. Nonaka K, Murayama S, Sugiura K, Murayama H. Factors associated with restarting or continuing community activities for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. (in press) [In Japanese]
  9. Nofuji Y, Shinkai S, Osuka Y, Seino S, Narita M, Nonaka K, Yokoyama Y, Hagiwara S, Fujikura T, Fujiwara Y, Murayama H. Possibility of diffusion and challenges of a frailty prevention class hosted by older adults: Efforts by the Saitama Prefecture Silver Human Resources Center Federation Headquarters. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2025:72(1):42-51. [In Japanese]
  10. Yokoyama Y, Nofuji Y, Abe T, Nonaka K, Ozone Y, Nakamura Y, Chiaki S, Suda T, Saito N, Takase M, Amano H, Ogawa S, Suzuki H, Murayama H. The Wako Cohort Study: Design and profile of participants at baseline. J Epidemiol (in press).
  11. Ueno T, Saito J, Murayama H, Saito M, Haseda M, Kondo K, Kondo N. Social participation and functional disability trajectories in the last three years of life: The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 121: 105361.
  12. Abe T, Fujiwara Y, Kitamura A, Nofuji Y, Nishita Y, Makizako H, Jeong S, Iwasaki M, Yamada M, Kojima N, Iijima K, Obuchi S, Shinmura K, Otsuka R, Suzuki T. Higher-level competence: Results from the Integrated Longitudinal Studies on Aging in Japan (ILSA-J) on the shape of associations with impaired physical and cognitive functions. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024;24(4):352-358.
  13. Abe T, Dogra S, Owen N, Sugiyama T. Older adults' staying at home in greater Tokyo: Association with population density and roles of car ownership and public transport. J Transp Health. 2024;36:101807.
  14. Saito N, Takase M, Taguchi A, Murayama H. Need for livelihood support and relationship with community residents: A cross-sectional survey among older adults who do not use livelihood support in a rural area. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2024; 71(6): 297-306. [In Japanese]
  15. Suda T, Sugawara I, Murayama H. The association between participation in social network service groups and offline social networks. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024; 24(Suppl 1): 279-284.
  16. Takase M, Nonaka K, Sugiura K, Murayama H. The association between role conflict and project participation in "Pro Bono Workers". Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024; 24(Suppl 1): 406-407.
  17. Takase M, Sugiura K, Nakamoto I, Watanabe S, Murayama H. The Association Between Employment and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024 (in press)
  18. Takase M, Sugiura K, Sagara T, Nakamoto I, Ma P, Muto Y, Higashi K, Fujiwara Y, Murayama H. Association between the change in the job facilitating and inhibiting factors of care staff due to the employment of older assistant workers and the emotional exhaustion among care staff. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2024: 71(5); 275-282. [In Japanese]
  19. Ide-Okochi A, He M, Kanamori Y, Samiso T, Takamoto K, Murayama H. Gender differences in the association between psychological distress and sociability among older adult survivors: Cross-sectional survey four years after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake in Japan. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2024; 262(3): 143-155.
  20. Fujihira K, Takahashi T, Sagara T, Matsunaga H, Fujita K, Suzuki H, Murayama H, Fujiwara Y. Relationship between face-to-face and non-face-to-face communication, and well-being in older volunteers during the pandemic: The REPRINTS project. J. Community Appl. Soc. Psychol. 2024; 34(2): e2773.
  21. Tani Y, Kawahara T, Sugihara G, Machida M, Amagasa S, Murayama H, Inoue S, Fujiwara T, Shobugawa Y. Childhood book availability helps to preserve cognitive function in older adults with low education: Results from the NEIGE study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2024; 79(6): gbae052.
  22. Takahashi T, Matsunaga H, Sagara T, Fujita K, Fujihira K, Ogawa S, Suzuki H, Murayama H, Fujiwara Y. Effects of fear of COVID-19 on older volunteers' willingness to continue their activities: REPRINTS Cohort Study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024; 24(Suppl 1): 370-376.
  23. Morita A, Fujiwara T, Murayama H, Machida M, Inoue S, Shobugawa Y. Association between trajectory of socioeconomic position and regional brain volumes related to dementia: Results from the NEIGE study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2024; 79(5): glad269.
  24. Shiratsuchi D, Makizako H, Akaida S, Tateishi M, Hirano H, Iijima K, Yamada M, Kojima N, Obuchi S, Fujiwara Y, Murayama H, Nishita Y, Jeong S, Otsuka R, Abe T, Suzuki T. Associations between information and communication technology use and frailty in community-dwelling old-old adults: Results from the ILSA-J. Eur Geriatr Med. 2024: 15(3); 621-627.
  25. Shinkai S, Narita M, Murayama H, Kitamura A, Fujiwara Y. Development of a brief assessment tool to evaluate early low nutrition risk in community elderly: Creation of the tool and examination of its reliability and criterion-related validity. J Epidemiol. (in press)
  26. Abe H, Murayama H. User profiles of private long-term care services not fully covered by public insurance in Japan. JMA J. (in press)
  27. Tomkinson GR, Lang JJ, Rubin L, McGrath R, Gower B, Boyle T, Klug MG, Mayhew AJ, Blake HT, Ortega FB, Cadenas-Sanchez C, Magnussen CG, Fraser BJ, Kidokoro T, Liu Y, Christensen K, Leong DP, the iGRIPS (international handGRIP Strength) group. International norms for adult handgrip strength: A systematic review of data on 2.4 million adults aged 20 to 100+ years from 69 countries or territories. J Sport Health Sci. (in press)
  28. Sagara T, Takase M, Sugiura K, Nakamoto I, Ma P, Muto Y, Higashi K, Fujiwara Y, Murayama H. Current conditions and challenges of employing older assistant care workers based on geriatric health services facilities' scale. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2024; 71(3): 177-185. [In Japanese]
  29. Fukuoka Y, Nishizawa S, Nishizawa ET, Amagasa S, Murayama H, Fujiwara T, Inoue S, Shobugawa Y. A Method for Extracting Common Physical Activity Locations among Older People from GPS and Accelerometer Data. Denki Gakkai Ronbunshi C. 2024; 144(4): 309-315. [In Japanese]
  30. Sugiura K, Sagara T, Takase M, Nakamoto I, Ma P, Muto Y, Higashi K, Fujiwara Y, Murayama H, Examination of the relationship between tasks in geriatric health service facilities and benefits of working for older assistant care workers. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2024: 71(7); 337-348. [In Japanese]
  31. Seino S, Nofuji Y, Ueda T, Nemoto Y, Kuraoka M, Takahashi J, Mori H, Hata T, Kitamura A, Kobayashi E, Murayama H, Motokawa K, Hattori S, Yamada M, Kondo K, Arai H, Fujiwara Y. A framework for promoting and evaluating "Kayoi-no-ba" initiatives according to the Plan-Do-Check-Action Cycle: The ACT-RECIPE framework. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2024: 71(8);418-429. [In Japanese]
  32. Yamashita M, Kawakubo K, Yamashiro D, Takahashi T, Matsunaga H, Sagara T, Fujita K, Fujihira K, Ogawa S, Suzuki H, Murayama H, Fujiwara Y. The sense of burden and related factors among older volunteers in picture book reading groups. Ronen Shakaigaku. 2024; 46(3): 235-244. [In Japanese]
  33. Tsuchiya R, Taguchi A, Omori J, Murayama H. Cross-sectional Association of Subjective Cognitive Decline in Community-dwelling Older Adults With Their Intention and Implementation of Becoming a Lifestyle-support Provider. Nihon Chiiki Kaigo Gakkaishi. 2024: 27(2); 14-22. [In Japanese]
  34. Ikeuchi T, Abe T, Taniguchi Y, Seino S, Yokoyama Y, Nofuji Y, Amano H, Kitamura A, Shinkai S, Fujiwara Y. Subjective age and mortality in community-living Japanese older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024 Mar;24 Suppl 1:404-405.
  35. Taniguchi Y, Kitamura A, Hata T, Fujita K, Abe T, Nofuji Y, Seino S, Yokoyama Y, Shinkai S, Fujiwara Y. Frailty trajectories and its associated factors in Japanese older adults. J Frailty Aging. 2024;13(3):233-239.
  36. Seino S, Abe T, Nofuji Y, Hata T, Shinkai S, Kitamura A, Fujiwara Y. Dose-response associations between physical activity and sedentary time with functional disability in older adults with or without frailty: a prospective cohort study. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1357618.
  37. Seino S, Abe T, Nofuji Y, Hata T, Shinkai S, Kitamura A, Fujiwara Y. Dose-response Associations of Physical Activity and Sitting Time With All-cause Mortality in Older Japanese Adults. J Epidemiol. 2024;34(1):23-30.
  38. Matsuzaki H, Tsuji T, Chen T, Chen S, Nofuji Y, Narazaki K. Cut-off point of the risk assessment scale for the 9-year risk of functional disability. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2024.71(9);466-473. [In Japanese]
  39. Kikuchi H, Seino S, Nofuji Y, Ueda T, Inoue S. Logic model and action plan for physical activity promotion: increasing regular exercisers. Nihon Kenko Kyoiku Gakkaishi. 2024;32 (Special_issue);S85-S93. [In Japanese]
  40. Kawaguchi K, Ueno T, Ide K, Kondo K. Social Participation among Residents of Serviced Housing for Older People versus Community-Dwelling Older People in Japan: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis. J Public Health. April 2024. DOI:10.1007/s10389-024-02253-8.
  41. Nakagomi A, Saito M, Ojima T, Ueno T, Hanazato M, Kondo K. Sociodemographic Heterogeneity in the Associations of Social Isolation With Mortality. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 May 1;7(5):e2413132. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.13132. PMID: 38787557; PMCID: PMC11127126.
  42. Kawaguchi K, Ueno T, Ide K, Kondo K. Serviced Housing for Older People and Prevention of Functional Decline: A One-year Follow-up Study in Japan. J Appl Gerontol. 2024. doi:10.1177/07334648241290327.
  43. Imamura K, Kawai H, Ejiri M, Abe T, Yamashita M, Sasai H, Obuchi S, Suzuki H, Fujiwara Y, Awata S, Toba K, IRIDE Cohort Investigators. Association of the combination of social isolation and living alone with cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults: The IRIDE Cohort Study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2024;127:105571.
  44. Ma P, Sagara T, Takase M, Sugiura K, Nakamoto I, Muto Y, Higashi K, Fujiwara Y, Murayama H. Workload and emotional exhaustion among older assistant care workers in Japan: Buffering effect of work resources. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (in press)
  45. Chen S, Chen T, Honda T, Kishimoto H, Nofuji Y, Narazaki K. Cognitive frailty and functional disability in older adults: A 10-year prospective cohort study in Japan. GeroScience. (in press)
  46. Chen T, Chen S, Honda T, Kishimoto H, Nofuji Y, Narazaki K. Association of objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time with all-cause mortality in Japanese older adults: a 10-year prospective study. Br J Sports Med. （in press）
  47. Okochi Am Kanamori Y, Nakamura S, Ishikawa M, Kishi E, Togari T, Murayama H. Research Trends on Sludge and Dark Nudges in Influencing Human Decision-Making. Kumamoto Daigaku Igakubu Hoken Gakka Kiyou. 2025; 21: 48-55. [In Japanese]
  48. Chiu CJ Hou SY, Kobayashi E, Lin YC, Chen YA, Murayama H, Okamoto S, Chen YH, Huang YJ. Reversed loneliness development after 65 for men and women: Modeling of the age trajectories of loneliness using national cohorts in Taiwan and Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (in press)
  49. Takahashi T, Yokoyama Y, Seino S, Nonaka K, Mori H, Yamashita M, Suzuki H, Murayama Y, Fujiwara Y, Kobayashi E. Physical, psychological, and social factors related to help-seeking preferences among older adults living in a community. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:795.