Keys to Optimal Cognitive Aging
Okinawa, Japan is known for their high concentration of centenarians and healthy agers. This is a pilot study where we examine key factors that could explain their healthy cognitive aging and compare them among the elderly recruited in the same way in Oregon, USA. This is a collaborative study between the University of the Ryukyus Graduate School of Medicine in Okinawa, Japan and the Layton Aging and Alzheimer’s disease center at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, USA. We have a rich collection of nutrient markers including a full panel of plasma amino acids and food frequency questionnaire, metabolic assessments, inflammation markers and MRI.
- Start Year
- 2007
- End Year
- 2012
- Supplementary Information
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- Nishihira J, Tokashiki T, Higashiuesato Y, Willcox DC, Mattek N, Shinto L, Ohya Y, Dodge HH. Associations between Serum Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels and Cognitive Functions among Community-Dwelling Octogenarians in Okinawa, Japan: The KOCOA Study. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2016. doi: 10.3233/JAD-150910. PubMed PMID: 26890763 (PMC4816662).
- Katsumata Y, Todoriki H, Yasura S, Dodge HH. Timed up and go test predicts cognitive decline in healthy adults aged 80 and older in Okinawa: Keys to Optimal Cognitive Aging (KOCOA) Project. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Nov;59(11):2188-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03645.x. PubMed PMID: 22098046; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3291095.
- Katsumata Y, Todoriki H, Higashiuesato Y, Yasura S, Willcox DC, Ohya Y, Willcox BJ, Dodge HH. Metabolic syndrome and cognitive decline among the oldest old in Okinawa: in search of a mechanism. The KOCOA Project. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012 Feb;67(2):126-34. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glr189. Epub 2011 Oct 20. PubMed PMID: 22016359; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3261441.
- Katsumata Y, Todoriki H, Higashiuesato Y, Yasura S, Ohya Y, Willcox DC, Dodge HH. Very old adults with better memory function have higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and lower triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios: KOCOA Project. J Alzheimers Dis. 2013 Jan 1;34(1):273-9. doi: 10.3233/JAD-121138. PubMed PMID: 23207484; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3586553.
- Silbert LC, Lahna D, Promjunyakul N, Boespflug E, Ohya Y, Higashiuesato Y, Nishihira J, Tokashiki T. Risk factors associated with decreased cortical thickness in dementia free Okinawan elderly Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2016: Vol. 12, Issue 7, P84–P85.
| Investigators | Contacts |
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Design
- Study design
- Cohort
- Follow Up
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3 years of annual follow-up (2007-2010) with MRI assessments among a part of original cohort and newly recruited subjects during 2011 – 2012
- Supplementary Information
Marker Paper
Dodge HH, Katsumata Y, Todoriki H, et al., Comparisons of plasma/serum micronutrients between Okinawan and Oregonian elders: a pilot study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2010 Oct;65(10):1060-7. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glq124.
PUBMED 20643702
Recruitment
- Recruitment Target
-
- Individuals
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 197
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 196
- Supplementary Information
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
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Timeline
KOCOA - Population
Community-dwelling elderly aged 80 and older who were functionally independent, recruited from those who participated in local senior center activities at least once.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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80
- Maximum age
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93
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- Japan
- Territory
- Ginowan City and Okinawa
- Ethnic Origin
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- Asian
- Health Status
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- Good ( no or partial assistance required for any activities of daily living)
- Other Criteria
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Consented for blood draw.
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- General population
- General Population
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- Volunteer enrolment
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 196
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 196
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
KOCOA - Baseline
|
Researchers visited 22 senior centers located in Ginowan City (Okinawa, Japan), explained the study protocol, and asked them to participate in the study. A request to join the study was made at ... |
2007-11 | 2008-03 |
| 1 |
KOCOA - 1st follow-up
|
First follow-up of participants. |
2008-11 | 2009-11 |
| 2 |
KOCOA - 2nd follow-up
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Second follow-up of participants. |
2009-11 | 2010-11 |
| 3 |
KOCOA - 3rd follow-up
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Trird follow-up of participants. Additional recruitment and MRI. |
2010-11 | 2012-12 |
Classifications
- Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
- Lifestyle and behaviours
- Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
- Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
- Diseases
- Symptoms and signs
- Medication and supplements
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Health and community care services utilization
- Death
- Physical measures and assessments
- Laboratory measures
- Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
- Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
- Preschool, school and work life
- Social environment and relationships
- Physical environment
- Administrative information
- Cognitive functioning
- Personality
- Psychological distress and emotions
- Other psychological measures and assessments
- Perception of health
- Quality of life
- Life course development
- Functional limitations
- Other perception of health, quality of life and functional limitation-related information
Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Lifestyle and behaviours
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Diseases
Symptoms and signs
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Social environment and relationships
Administrative information
Cognitive functioning
Psychological distress and emotions
Functional limitations