Relationship between hearing loss and prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japan: baseline data from the Aidai Cohort Study in Yawatahama and Uchiko

Functional AGXT2 SNP rs180749 variant and depressive symptoms: Baseline data from the Aidai Cohort Study in Japan

No study has shown the relationship between alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 (AGXT2) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and depressive symptoms. The present case-control study examined this relationship in Japanese adults. Cases and control participants were selected from those who participated in the baseline survey of the Aidai Cohort Study, which is an ongoing cohort study. Cases comprised 280 participants with depressive symptoms based on a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score ≥ 16. Control participants comprised 2034 participants without depressive symptoms based on the CES-D who had not been diagnosed by a physician as having depression or who had not been currently taking medication for depression. Adjustment was made for age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption, leisure time physical activity, education, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Compared with the GG genotype of rs180749, both the GA and AA genotypes were significantly positively associated with the risk of depressive symptoms assessed by the CES-D: the adjusted odds ratios for the GA and AA genotypes were 2.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-8.24) and 3.10 (95% CI 1.37-8.92), respectively. The TGC haplotype of rs37370, rs180749, and rs16899974 was significantly inversely related to depressive symptoms (crude OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.49-0.90), whereas the TAC haplotype was significantly positively associated with depressive symptoms (crude OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.01-1.52). This is the first study to show significant associations between AGXT2 SNP rs180749, the TGC haplotype, and the TAC haplotype and depressive symptoms.

Association between hearing status and social participation in Japanese older adults: A cross-sectional study from the Japan gerontological evaluation study

PURPOSE

Hearing is known to decline with age. As sensitivity to speech declines, conversation becomes more difficult and social interactions are affected, resulting in increased risk of cognitive decline. This study aimed to examine the relationship between hearing status and social participation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 21,117 adults aged 65 years or older who responded to a survey in 2019. The survey asked participants about their hearing status and how frequently they participated in certain social activities.

RESULTS

The analysis of the relationship between degree of hearing and social activity showed lower hearing status odds ratios for those who participated more frequently in social activities compared to those who participated less frequently. The odds ratios were as follows, hobby clubs (OR 0.81, 95%CI 0.78-0.84), activities such as teaching skills or passing on experiences to others (OR 0.69, 95%CI 0.65-0.75), and meeting with friends (OR 0.77, 95%CI 0.74-0.79). Compared to those who did not participate in social activities, those who participated in three or more types of groups had significantly lower hearing impairment (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.72-0.79).

CONCLUSION

Hearing impairment was shown to inhibit participation in activities, including those that require communication with multiple people or smooth communication, those that involve a wide range of ages, and those that involve work and movement. Hearing impairment should be identified and addressed in its early stages to prevent its negative impact on social participation.

Fish and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Japan: the Aidai Cohort Study in Yawatahama, Uchiko, Seiyo, and Ainan

AIM

Epidemiological evidence regarding the relationship between fish and fatty acid intake and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) has been limited and inconsistent. The current cross-sectional study investigated this issue using baseline data from the Aidai Cohort Study.

METHODS

Study subjects were 2024 Japanese men and women aged 34-88 years. Right and left CIMT were measured at the common carotid artery using an automated carotid ultrasonography device. Maximum CIMT was defined as the largest CIMT value in either the left or right common carotid artery. Carotid wall thickening was defined as a maximum CIMT value ＞1.0 mm.

RESULTS

The prevalence of carotid wall thickening was 13.0%. In men, intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was independently positively related to the prevalence of carotid wall thickening, while no associations were found between intake of fish and the other fatty acids and carotid wall thickening or maximum CIMT. In women, intake levels of fish, n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and arachidonic acid were independently inversely associated with carotid wall thickening and intake levels of fish, n-3 PUFA, α-linolenic acid, n-6 PUFA, and linoleic acid were independently inversely associated with the maximum CIMT. No significant relationships were found between intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, or monounsaturated fatty acids and carotid wall thickening or maximum CIMT regardless of sex.

CONCLUSIONS

In women, higher intake of fish and n-3 and n-6 PUFA may be associated with a lower prevalence of carotid wall thickening and a decrease in maximum CIMT.