title: Cohort profile: the ages 2003 cohort study in Aichi, Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The longevity of Japanese is thought to be associated with psychosocial factors such as sense of coherence, social support, and social capital. However, the actual factors responsible and the extent of their contribution to individual health status are not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES) 2003 Cohort Study is a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling, activities of daily living-independent people aged 65 or older living in 6 municipalities in Chita peninsula, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Information on psychosocial factors and other individual- and community-level factors was collected in the second half of 2003 using a baseline questionnaire. Vital status and physical and cognitive decline have been followed using data derived from long-term care insurance certification. Geographical information on the study participants was also obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 13 310 (6508 men; 6802 women) study participants were registered in the study. For an interim report, we followed the cohort for 48 months, yielding 24 753 person-years of observation among men and 26 456 person-years among women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AGES 2003 Cohort Study provides useful evidence for research in social epidemiology, gerontology, and health services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawachi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires