Changes in functional status among older adults in Japan: successful and usual aging.
This research aimed to chart the trajectories of functional status in old age in Japan and to assess how self-rated health and cognitive functioning differentiate these trajectories and account for interpersonal differences. Data came from a 5-wave panel study of a national sample of 2,200 Japanese older adults between 1987 and 1999. The sample as a whole showed an accelerated increase in functional limitations with age. approximated by a quadratic function. More important, 3 major trajectories of functional change were identified: (a) minimal functional decrement, (b) early onset of functional impairment. and (c) late onset of functional impairment. These findings may serve as useful benchmarks for observations derived from other developed nations.
Liang
Jersey
J
U Michigan.
Shaw
Benjamin A
BA
State U of New York--U at Albany.
Krause
Neal M
NM
U Michigan.
Bennett
Joan M
JM
U Michigan.
Blaum
Caroline
C
U Michigan.
Kobayashi
Erika
E
Tokyo Metropolitan Inst of Gerontology.
Fukaya
Taro
T
Tokyo Metropolitan Inst of Gerontology.
Sugihara
Yoko
Y
Tokyo Metropolitan Inst of Gerontology.
Sugisawa
Hidehiro
H
Obirin U.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life