Prevention and Intervention of Dementia and Depression

Shuichi Awata M.D., Ph.D.

Kae Ito, M.D., Mutsuo Ijuin Ph.D., Naoko Sakuma, Hiroki Inagaki, Chiaki Ura

Visiting Scientists
Mika Sugiyama, Fumiko Miyamae, Naoko Kawano, Hajime Iwasa

Dementia, Depression, Delirium, Delusion, Cognitive Function, Mental Health Wellbeing, Comprehensive Community Support System

1. Research on development of community programs for prevention and intervention of dementia and depression.

2. Research on development of measurements for cognitive functions and mental health wellbeing.

3. Research on establishment of comprehensive community support systems for elders with dementia, depression, and other mental disorders.

To establish the effective strategies for prevention of dementia and depression, we are developing the community programs and examining the efficacy through a series of intervention studies. To detect the elderly with early-stage dementia and depression, and to evaluate the efficacy of intervention programs, we are also developing various psychometric measurements assessing cognitive function and mental health wellbeing. Finally, to create the local community where the elders are able to live with dignity, meaningfulness, and feelings of relief, we are conducting multidisciplinary studies on the establishment of the comprehensive community support system that continuously provide elders with resources for prevention, medical treatment, and care for dementia, depression and other mental disorders. Disaster victims, poverty people including the homeless, and community-dwellers in metropolitan areas, where elderly population are rapidly increasing, are main targets for our study because of requiring such systems immediately. We are also developing various psychometric measurements assessing cognitive function and mental health wellbeing, in order to detect the elders with early-stage dementia and those at risk for depression and suicide. Finally, to create the community where the elders are able to live safely and peacefully, with dignity and meaningfulness, we are conducting multidisciplinary studies collaborating with other research groups.