Search Results (6)

Background: East Asia accounts for the highest number of anxiety disorders cases globally, with China, Japan, and Republic of Korea representing 17.5% of global incidence according to GBD 2021. These nations offer a unique context for examining how different modernization paths impact anxiety disorders patterns. This study examined anxiety disorders incidence trends across these countries from 1992 to 2021 to compare disease burdens and inform public health strategies. Methods: Using GBD 2021 data, we employed age–period–cohort analysis to evaluate factors affecting anxiety disorders incidence, examining age-specific rates, period effects, and birth cohort influences. Results: All three countries experienced sharp increases in anxiety disorders following COVID-19. Age-standardized incidence rates decreased by 4.89% in China and 10.52% in Japan from 1992 to 2019, while remaining stable in Republic of Korea. Net drift was −0.40% for China, −0.50% for Japan, and approximately 0 for Republic of Korea. Local drifts were positive among older adults in China and Japan, and middle-aged adults in Republic of Korea. Longitudinal age curves showed inverted V-shaped patterns, peaking in the 10–14 age group across all three countries. China and Republic of Korea exhibit a second peak during middle age, while Japan shows continuous decline after the 10–14 age group. Period and cohort effects indicating overall decreases in China and Japan, with minimal changes in Republic of Korea. Conclusions: Different modernization trajectories have produced distinct anxiety disorders patterns across these East Asian nations. The elevated risk among adolescents across all countries warrants targeted interventions, while high risks among middle-aged adults in China and Republic of Korea requires age-specific approaches. Countries should utilize their healthcare systems’ strengths to create targeted strategies for reducing anxiety disorders while addressing pandemic-related mental health impacts. Full article

Background/objectives: An East Asian-specific 1382A>C polymorphism in the mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c results in an amino acid substitution from Lys (K) to Gln (Q) at the 14th amino acid residue. This study investigated the association between m.1382A>C polymorphism and sarcopenia, blood lipids, and mental health in older Korean adults. Methods: The study included 683 community-dwelling Korean adults (345 men and 338 women) aged 65 years and older. The m.1382A>C polymorphism was genotyped with a 7500 real-time PCR system. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured, and appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass was calculated. Demographics, blood lipids, falling risk, nutritional intake, cognition function, and depression were additionally measured. Results: Men carrying the C allele had significantly higher ASM (21.6 ± 3.0 vs. 19.5 ± 2.2 kg, p = 0.018), ASM/height² (7.76 ± 0.76 vs. 7.14 ± 0.62 kg/m², p = 0.012), lean mass (53.3 ± 6.2 vs. 46.5 ± 4.0 kg, p < 0.001), left HGS (33.3 ± 5.0 vs. 28.9 ± 4.0 kg, p = 0.010), and right HGS (35.6 ± 5.3 vs. 30.9 ± 4.3 kg, p = 0.009) than men carrying the A allele. The genotype differences in ASM (p = 0.017), ASM/height² (p = 0.011), lean mass (p < 0.001), left HGS (p = 0.010), and right HGS (p = 0.009) remained significant even after adjusting for all measured covariates. By contrast, no significant differences in other measured parameters were found between women carrying the A and C alleles. Conclusions: Our study findings indicate that the m.1382A>C polymorphism may be used as a genetic biomarker of age-related sarcopenia in older Korean men. Full article

Background/Objectives: Anemia is a global health issue affecting diverse populations, particularly older adults, and conventional treatments often show limited efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the utilization and effectiveness of Sipjeondaebotang (SDT), a prescription drug used in traditional East Asian medicine, in treating various types of anemia. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Six electronic databases were searched for clinical studies on SDT, while focusing on human participants and excluding animal and cellular studies. Sixteen studies, including nine randomized controlled trials, two controlled clinical trials, two case series, and three case reports, involving 863 participants, were analyzed. These studies were primarily conducted in China, Korea, and Japan. Results: According to the analysis, SDT improved hemoglobin levels across all types of anemia studied, with all controlled studies showing significant improvements compared with the control groups. Additionally, SDT reduced blood loss, improved recovery times, and decreased transfusion requirements in patients with post-operative anemia, with lower adverse event rates than those in the control groups. These findings suggest that SDT may enhance hematological parameters and improve overall patient outcomes. Conclusions: In conclusion, SDT may be an effective treatment for anemia that improves hemoglobin levels and patient outcomes. However, further high-quality, large-scale studies are necessary to standardize SDT prescriptions, confirm the optimal treatment duration, and validate its efficacy and safety across different anemia types. Full article

In current times that emphasize active aging, older adults are often encouraged to participate in interest classes at community centers. Adopting an ethnographic research approach to understand the subjectivities of older mothers, this paper not only sees community centers as a space for older adults for taking interest classes, but also as an infrastructure that defines relationship values. This paper examines the motivations of older mothers in urban Taiwan who have established a routine at a community center. By emphasizing the public space, that is, the values indoctrinated at the community centers, this paper investigates how community center activities offer self-care practices for older women, and how these women embody motherhood by taking care of themselves. This paper expands the notion of motherhood by investigating the subjectivities of older mothers as well as the effects of the global aging discourse on them. This study of urban Taiwan sheds light on understanding the subjectivity of aging mothers in other East Asian cities. The data of this paper were collected through participant observations at community centers, in-depth interviews, and analysis of newspaper archives. Full article

This study aims to develop a universal scale for comparing cognitive and physical functions among countries using health survey data from China, Korea, and Japan. This study used the data of 934 participants from the Korean Longitude Study of Aging, 2506 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitude Study, and 178 participants from the Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement. Each physical and cognitive function item in the three countries has five key items. The anchoring method used the key items to link each cognitive and physical function of the three countries. We investigated the psychometric characteristics of the final item using the Rasch analysis. We extracted 13 items of 19 cognitive function items and 20 items out of 29 physical function items using the anchoring method and the Rasch analysis. The Rasch analysis showed good fit statistics for 13 cognitive function items and 20 physical function items. The measurement scale developed in this study will enable valid comparisons of older adults’ cognitive and physical functions across these three countries. Full article

South-East Asia (SEA) is the home of the largest number of the world’s older population. In this scoping review, we aimed to map the existing enablers and barriers of accessing healthcare services among older adults in SEA countries. Articles that were published from January 2001 until November 2021 were searched in four data sources (PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO Host and The Cochrane Library). Studies pertaining to the factors which assist or obstruct older Southeast Asian adults from assessing healthcare services were chosen for this scoping review. First, two reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of articles in the data sources. After identifying appropriate articles, the reviewers read them. Data extracted by one reviewer were verified by the other reviewer. The findings were then classified according to Penchansky and Thomas’s five domains of access. A total of 19 studies were included in the final scoping review. Accessibility and acceptability were the two factors most often identified as enablers or barriers to older adults from accessing healthcare. Other often mentioned factors were finances, transportation and social/family support. Older adults living in rural areas were especially impacted by these factors. To promote healthy ageing, optimum healthcare and wellbeing among older adults in Southeast Asia, it is extremely important to consider accessibility and acceptability when planning healthcare services. Full article