Abstract
BackgroundSarcopenia, resulting from loss of muscle mass and function, is highly prevalent in the ageing societies and is associated with risk of falls, frailty, loss of independence, and mortality. It is important to identify environmental risk factors, so that evidence-based interventions to prevent sarcopenia can be implemented at the population level. This study aimed to examine the potential effect of several objectively measured neighborhood environmental factors on longitudinal change of muscle mass and function among older adults living in rural Japanese towns where the population is ageing.MethodsThis study was based on data from the Shimane CoHRE Study conducted by the Center for Community-based Healthcare Research and Education (CoHRE) at Shimane University in 3 rural towns in the Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Subjects older than 60 years, who participated in an annual health examination in 2016 and any follow-up years until 2019, i.e., 4 possible time points in total, were included (n = 2526). The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and grip strength were assessed objectively for each year as a measure of muscle mass and function, respectively. Neighborhood environmental factors, i.e., hilliness, bus stop density, intersection density, residential density, and distance to a community center were measured by geographic information systems (GIS). Linear mixed models were applied to examine the potential effect of each neighborhood environmental factor on the change of SMI and grip strength over time.ResultsMales living far from community centers had a less pronounced decline in SMI compared to those living close to community centers. Females living in areas with higher residential density had a less pronounced decline in grip strength compared to those living in areas with lower residential density.ConclusionsNeighborhood environmental factors had limited effects on change of SMI and grip strength among rural older adults within the 3 years follow up. Further long-term follow up studies are necessary by also taking into account other modifiable neighborhood environmental factors.
Highlights
Sarcopenia is defined as a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder resulting from loss of muscle mass and muscle function and is associated with risk of falls, frailty, loss of independence, and mortality among older adults [1,2,3,4]
Okuyama et al Int J Health Geogr (2020) 19:51 modifiable factors are important in interventions at the individual level, neighborhood-level factors may be key in the prevention of sarcopenia at the population level because of their potential to determine people’s behaviors and subsequent health outcomes
No previous studies have assessed both neighborhood environments and physical functions based on objective measures, such as functions related to sarcopenia
Summary
Sarcopenia is defined as a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder resulting from loss of muscle mass and muscle function and is associated with risk of falls, frailty, loss of independence, and mortality among older adults [1,2,3,4]. Several factors, such as physical activity, diet, and smoking have been identified as potential risk factors for sarcopenia [5,6,7,8]. This study aimed to examine the potential effect of several objectively measured neighborhood environmental factors on longitudinal change of muscle mass and function among older adults living in rural Japanese towns where the population is ageing
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