Theme Leader :
Shuichi Obuchi, P.T., Ph.D.
Vice-Chief Researcher :
Hisashi Kawai, Ph.D.
Researcher :
Manami Ejiri, Ph.D, Keigo Imamura, P.T., Ph.D., Gong Rui, Ph.D.
Adjunct Researcher :
Takeshi Kera, P.T., Ph.D.
Administrative Staff:
Hiroe Ito, Yukiko Sato, Kaori Ariwa.
Digital technology, Wearable device, daily-life walking speed, Life-log data, Coping behavior, Stress management
This research theme focuses on practical studies aimed at transitioning from a disease-avoidance model to a salutogenic model to promote well-being in a super-aged society. With recent advancements in IoT technology, various life-log data--such as walking, sleep patterns, and physical activity--can now be recorded in daily life. However, a lack of sufficient scientific evidence remains a challenge.
To address this, we utilize wearable devices such as smartwatches and ankle-band accelerometers to collect and analyze long-term life-log data from older individuals. Using artificial intelligence (AI), we examine the associations between life-log data and health outcomes, such as frailty and cognitive decline. This analysis provides valuable insights for preventing long-term care dependence and dementia, as well as for maintaining overall health.
Furthermore, we aim to develop a large-scale digital registry, the "Digital Cohort," where participants' daily activities are continuously recorded and leveraged to study their relationship with health outcomes.
1. Hisashi Kawai, Keigo Imamura, Manami Ejiri, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Kazushige Ihara, Hirohiko Hirano, Hiroyuki Sasai, Shuichi Obuchi, Takao Suzuki: Association of aging trajectories in the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence with instrumental activities of daily living among community-dwelling older Japanese adults: The Otassha study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. (in press)
2. Hisashi Kawai, Keigo Imamura, Rui Gong, Manami Ejiri, Shuichi Obuchi: Comparability of Daily-Life Walking Speed Measured by Smartphone GPS and Ankle-Band Accelerometer: Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Form Res 2025;9:e73722
3. Takeshi Kera, Hisashi Kawai, Manami Ejiri, Keigo Imamura, Hirohiko Hirano, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Kazushige Ihara, Shuichi Obuchi: Comparative Analysis of the Maximal Respiratory Pressure and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Diagnosing Probable Respiratory Sarcopenia--The Otassha Study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2025; 25: 1253-1259.
4. Kazuyuki Sato, Hisashi Kawai, Keigo Imamura, Manami Ejiri, Hiroyuki Sasai, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Hirohiko Hirano, Kazushige Ihara, Shuichi Obuchi: Association of Self-perception and Perception Gap in Walking Speed with Frailty: The Otassha Study. Gait & Posture.2025:122:38-44.
5. Keigo Imamura, Hisashi Kawai, Manami Ejiri, Hiroyuki Sasai, Kazushige Ihara, Harumi Nakada, Atsushi Araki, Hirohiko Hirano, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Takao Suzuki, Shuichi Obuchi: Association between the use of information and communication technology and cognitive decline stratified by social isolation: The Otassha Study. J Prev Alzheimers Dis.2025;12(6):100138.
6. Takeshi Kera, Hisashi Kawai, Shuichi Obuchi: Respiratory Sarcopenia: Current Understanding of Concepts and Future Issues. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 26(5):105541, 2025.
7. Jou-Yin Chen, Hisashi Kawai, Junta Takahashi, Manami Ejiri, Keigo Imamura, Shuichi P Obuchi: Test-retest reliability of the computer-based cognitive assessment tool for community-dwelling older adults in Japan: The Otassha study. Digit Health. 11:20552076251317627, 2025.
8. Shuichi P. Obuchi, Motonaga Kojima, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Juan C. Garbalosa, Keigo Imamura, Kazushige Ihara, Hirohiko Hirano, Hiroyuki Sasai, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Hisashi Kawai: Artificial intelligence detection of cognitive impairment in older adults during walking. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 16(3):e70012. 2024.
9. Takeshi Kera, Hisashi Kawai, Manami Ejiri, Keigo Imamura, Hirohiko Hirano, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Kazushige Ihara, Shuichi Obuchi: Validating respiratory sarcopenia diagnostic criteria by mortality based on a position paper by four professional organizations: Insights from the Otassha study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024; 24: 948-953.
10. Keigo Imamura, Hisashi Kawai, Manami Ejiri, Hirohiko Hirano, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Kazushige Ihara, Shuichi Obuchi: Validity of walking speed measurements using an ankle accelerometer in older individuals. Aging Med Healthcare. 16(3):246-252, 2025.
11. Keigo Imamura, Hisashi Kawai, Manami Ejiri, Takumi Abe, Mari Yamashita, Hiroyuki Sasai, Shuichi Obuchi, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Shuichi Awata, Kenji Toba; 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. 127:105571. 2024.
12. Manami Ejiri, Hisashi Kawai, Keigo Imamura, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Kazushige Ihara, Hirohiko Hirano, Shuichi Obuchi: Regular exercise reduces the risk of all-cause mortality in socially isolated older adults: The Otassha Study. Front Public Health, 12:1344952. 2024.
13.Hisashi Kawai, Keigo Imamura, Manami Ejiri, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Kazushige Ihara, Hirohiko Hirano, Hiroyuki Sasai, Shuichi Obuchi: Aging trajectories of subscales in higher-level functional capacity among community-dwelling older Japanese adults: the Otassha study. Aging Clin Exp Res. 36, 137. 2024.
14.Keigo Imamura, Hisashi Kawai, Manami Ejiri, Hiroyuki Sasai, Hirohiko Hirano, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Kazushige Ihara, Shuichi Obuchi: Social isolation, regardless of living alone, is associated with mortality: The Otassha Study. Front Public Health. 12:1365943, 2024.
