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Dementia and Mental Health Research

Members

Theme Leader :
Tsuyoshi Okamura, M.D., Ph.D.
Researcher :
Hiroki Inagaki, Ph.D., Chiaki Ura, Ph.D., Ayako Edahiro, D.D.S., Ph.D., Mika Sugiyama, Ph.D., Naoko Sakuma, B.A., Fumiko Miyamae, Ph.D.
Adjunct Researcher :
Fumiko Miyamae, Ph.D., Madoka Ogawa, Ph.D., Tsutomu Taga, Ph.D., Hajime Iwasa, Ph.D., Hiroyuki Nikawa, M.D., Ph.D., Emi Nomoto, B.S., Yukiko Kugimiya, B.A., Mutsuko Okamura, B.A., Mitsuo Morikura, B.A., Yuki Matoba, Ph.D., Masako Yamamura, M.A., Sumiko Kenjo, B.A., Yoshiko Tsuzuki, M.A. Hanae Yagihashi, B.A.

Keywords

Dementia, Depression, Delusion, Delirium, Mental Health Well-being, Quality of Life, Cognitive Function, Community-based Integrated Care System, Dementia Friendly Communities, Rights-Based Approach, Medical Center for Dementia, Early-Onset Dementia

Major Research Titles

  1. 1.Development of comprehensive strategies for prevention from and intervention of “complexity” of dementia with physical, mental, and social vulnerability and disability.
  2. 2.Establishment of a community-based integrated care system supporting people living with dementia and/or neuropsychiatric disorders.
  3. 3.Development of a model of dementia friendly communities from the perspective of rights-based approach.
  4. 4.Epidemiology and development of social services for early-onset dementia.
  5. 5.Development of assessment scales for cognitive and daily living functions, mental health well-being, social support and network, and quality of life.

Profile

Dementia and other neuropsychiatric disorders in late life entail a great risk for "complexity" with physically, mentally, and socially vulnerable conditions, which causes reduced quality of life and breakdown of independent living in a community. We study to examine the situational constellation and structure of “complexity”, and develop the comprehensive strategies for prevention from and intervention of “complexity”. On the basis of these studies, we study on establishment of a community-based integrated care system and development of a model of dementia friendly communities (DFCs) from the perspective of rights-based approach (RBA). The Takashimadaira Study is one of the longitudinal cohort studies to develop the model in Tokyo metropolis.
In the context of RBA, we also conduct a nationwide epidemiological study on early-onset dementia (EOD), because social resources for EOD are relatively sparse, especially for promoting independent living and supports for family caregivers. In collaboration with the Japan Dementia Working Group (JDWG),a group established by people living with dementia in 2014, we study how to promote PANEL principle (participation, accountability, non-discrimination and equality, empowerment, and legality), in order to popularize DFCs in our country. In collaboration with several private sectors, we also study how to establish the system providing housing and everyday living services for people living alone with dementia and low income without family caregivers.  
In addition, to ensure quality diagnosis and quality post-diagnostic supports, we study how to control quality of the Medical Center for Dementia (MCD) in the whole country. For remote islands, where it is impossible to deploy MCD, we study on development of the TV meeting system in collaboration with the multidisciplinary experts working for MCD using the information and communication technology (ICT).
To confirm the outcome of these studies, we conduct a series of psychometric studies to develop the assessment scales in terms of cognitive and daily living functions, mental health well-being, social support and network, and quality of life.
In summary, our study aims to create a society where people can live well with hope and dignity regardless of dementia and disability.

References

  1. 1. Okamura T, Ura C, Miyamae F, Sugiyama M, Inagaki H, Edahiro A, Murayama H, Motokawa K, Awata S. To give or to receive: Relationship between social support giving/receiving and psychometrics in a large-scale survey. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018 May;33(5):798-799.
  2. 2. Miyamae F, Ura C, Sakuma N, Niikawa H, Inagaki H, Ijuin M, Okamura T, Sugiyama M, Awata S. The development of a self-administered dementia checklist: the examination of concurrent validity and discriminant validity. Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 2016;53(4):354-362. Japanese.
  3. 3. Niikawa H, Okamura T, Ito K, Ura C, Miyamae F, Sakuma N, Ijuin M, Inagaki H, Sugiyama M, Awata S. Association between polypharmacy and cognitive impairment in an elderly Japanese population residing in an urban community. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2017 Sep;17(9):1286-1293.
  4. 4. Sakuma N, Ura C, Miyamae F, Inagaki H, Ito K, Niikawa H, Ijuin M, Okamura T, Sugiyama M, Awata S. Distribution of Mini-Mental State Examination scores among urban community-dwelling older adults in Japan. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017 Jul;32(7):718-725.
  5. 5. Okamura T, Awata S, Ito K, Takiwaki K, Matoba Y, Niikawa H, Tachimori H, Takeshima T. Elderly men in Tokyo homeless shelters who are suspected of having cognitive impairment. Psychogeriatrics. 2017 May;17(3):206-207.
  6. 6. Awata S, Sugiyama M, Ito K, Ura C, Miyamae F, Sakuma N, Niikawa H, Okamura T, Inagaki H, Ijuin M. Development of the dementia assessment sheet for community-based integrated care system. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2016 Mar;16 Suppl 1:123-31.
  7. 7. Okamura T, Ito K, Ura C, Miyamae F, Niikawa H, Awata S. Sex difference in mental well-being among the young-old population: Things that you have left behind might be important in later life. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2016 Mar;16(3):398-9.
  8. 8. Okamura T, Takeshima T, Tachimori H, Takiwaki K, Matoba Y, Awata S. Characteristics of Individuals With Mental Illness in Tokyo Homeless Shelters.Psychiatr Serv. 2015 Dec 1;66(12):1290-5.
  9. 9. Ura C, Miyamae F, Sakuma N, Niikawa H, Inagaki H, Ijuin M, Ito K, Okamura T, Sugiyama M, Awata S. [Development of a self-administered dementia checklist (SDC) (1): Examination of factorial validity and internal reliability]. Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 2015;52(3):243-53.Japanese.
  10. 10. Okamura T, Ura C, Miyamae F, Sugiyama M, Niikawa H, Ito K, Awata S. Excessive daytime sleepiness is related to subjective memory impairment in late life: a cross-sectional community-based study. Psychogeriatrics. 2016 May;16(3):196-201.
  11. 11. Yoshida Y, Iwasa H, Kumagai S, Suzuki T, Awata S, Yoshida H. Longitudinal association between habitual physical activity and depressive symptoms in older people. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2015 Nov;69(11):686-92.
  12. 12. Awata S. Current activities of medical centers for dementia in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2014 Apr;14 Suppl 2:23-7.
  13. 13. Ito K, Morikawa S, Okamura T, Shimokado K, Awata S. Factors associated with mental well-being of homeless people in Japan. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2014 Feb;68(2):145-53.
  14. 14. Okamura T, Ito K, Morikawa S, Awata S. Suicidal behavior among homeless people in Japan. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014 Apr;49(4):573-82.
  15. 15. Awata S. Disaster psychiatry in late life. Nihon Rinsho. 2013 Oct;71(10):1864-9. Japanese.
  16. 16. Inagaki H, Ito K, Sakuma N, Sugiyama M, Okamura T, Awata S. Reliability and validity of the simplified Japanese version of the WHO-Five Well-being Index (S-WHO-5-J). Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2013 May;60(5):294-301. Japanese.
  17. 17. Ito K, Inagaki H, Sugiyama M, Okamura T, Shimokado K, Awata S. Association between subjective memory complaints and mental health well-being in urban community-dwelling elderly in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2013 Jan;13(1):234-5.
  18. 18. Kawano N, Awata S, Ijuin M, Iwamoto K, Ozaki N. Necessity of normative data on the Japanese version of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory subtest for old-old people. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2013 Jul;13(3):726-30.
  19. 19. Ijuin M, Sugiyama M, Sakuma N, Inagaki H, Miyamae F, Ito K, Kojima N, Ura C, Awata S. Walking exercise and cognitive functions in community-dwelling older adults: preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013 Jan;28(1):109-10.
  20. 20. Okamura T, Ito K, Konno M, Inagaki H, Sugiyama M, Sakuma N, Awata S. Subjective daytime sleepiness in community-dwelling elderly in Japan. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2012 Sep;59(9):675-83. Japanese.
  21. 21. Takahashi F, Awata S, Sakuma N, Inagaki H, Ijuin M. Reliability and validity of A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed for detecting early-stage dementia in elderly Japanese. Psychogeriatrics. 2012 Jun;12(2):75-82.
  22. 22. Ito K, Inagaki H, Okamura T, Shimokado K, Awata S. Factors associated with mental health well-being of urban community-dwelling elders in Japan: comparison between subjects with and without long-term care insurance certification. Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 2012;49(1):82-9. Japanese.
  23. 23. Yamada K, Hosoda M, Nakashima S, Furuta K, Awata S. Psychiatric diagnosis in the elderly referred to a consultation-liaison psychiatry service in a general geriatric hospital in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2012 Apr;12(2):304-9.
  24. 24. Kurimoto A, Awata S, Ohkubo T, Tsubota-Utsugi M, Asayama K, Takahashi K, Suenaga K, Satoh H, Imai Y. Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale. Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi.2011;48(2):149-57. Japanese.
  25. 25. Awata S. New national health program against dementia in Japan: the medical center for dementia. Psychogeriatrics. 2010 Jun;10(2):102-6.
  26. 26. Yoshida S, Hirai M, Suzuki S, Awata S, Oka Y. Neuropathy is associated with depression independently of health-related quality of life in Japanese patients with diabetes. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009 Feb;63(1):65-72.
  27. 27. Awata S, Bech P, Yoshida S, Hirai M, Suzuki S, Yamashita M, Ohara A, Hinokio Y, Matsuoka H, Oka Y. Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index in the context of detecting depression in diabetic patients. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2007 Feb;61(1):112-9.
  28. 28. Awata S, Bech P, Koizumi Y, Seki T, Kuriyama S, Hozawa A, Ohmori K, Nakaya N, Matsuoka H, Tsuji I. Validity and utility of the Japanese version of the WHO-Five Well-Being Index in the context of detecting suicidal ideation in elderly community residents. Int Psychogeriatr. 2007 Feb;19(1):77-88.
  29. 29. Koizumi Y, Awata S, Kuriyama S, Ohmori K, Hozawa A, Seki T, Matsuoka H, Tsuji I. Association between social support and depression status in the elderly: results of a 1-year community-based prospective cohort study in Japan. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2005 Oct;59(5):563-9.
  30. 30. Awata S, Seki T, Koizumi Y, Sato S, Hozawa A, Omori K, Kuriyama S, Arai H, Nagatomi R, Matsuoka H, Tsuji I. Factors associated with suicidal ideation in an elderly urban Japanese population: a community-based, cross-sectional study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2005 Jun;59(3):327-36.