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.
Overview
- Acronym
- KOCOA
- Investigators
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- Contacts
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General Design
- Study design
- Cohort
- Start - End Year
- 2007 - 2012
- General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
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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
- Recruitment Target
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- Individuals
- Number of Participants
- 197
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 196
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
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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 20643702Supplementary Information
- 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.
Timeline
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
- 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.
Sources of Recruitment
- General Population
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- Volunteer enrolment
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 196
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 196
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | KOCOA - Baseline |
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|
2007 (November) | 2008 (March) |
| 1 | KOCOA - 1st follow-up |
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2008 (November) | 2009 (November) | |
| 2 | KOCOA - 2nd follow-up |
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2009 (November) | 2010 (November) | |
| 3 | KOCOA - 3rd follow-up |
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2010 (November) | 2012 (December) |
Participating Studies
| Acronym | Name | Study design | Countries |
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Harmonization Initiatives Included
| Acronym | Name |
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Datasets
| Name | Data Collection Events | Variables |
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Areas of Information Collected
- Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
- Death
- Lifestyle and behaviours
- Physical measures and assessments
- Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
- Laboratory measures
- Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
- Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
- Diseases
- Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
- Symptoms and signs
- Preschool, school and work life
- Medication and supplements
- Social environment and relationships
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Physical environment
- Health and community care services utilization
- Administrative information
Variables Content Summary
Areas of Information Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
Networks
| Acronym | Name | Harmonization Initiatives | Individual Studies |
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