Urban Reform in Multidisciplinary Elderly Cohort Study: From Marginal to Healthy Longevity -Tarumizu Study-
Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
Advanced Therapeutics Course
Cardiovascular and Hypertension Medicine
OHISHI Mitsuru
KUBOZONO Takuro
Advanced Therapeutics Course
Maxillofacial Disease Control
SUGIURA Tsuyoshi
Advanced Therapeutics Course
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
TAKEDA Yasuo
Health Research
Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
KORIYAMA Chihaya
Graduate School of Health Sciences
Department of Physical Therapy
Basic Physical Therapy
MAKIZAKO Hyuma
Department of Occupational Therapy
Basic Occupational Therapy
TABIRA Takayuki
Department of Nursing
Comprehansive
Community-based Nursing
MIYATA Masaaki
Background and objectives of activities
Tarumizu City, Kagoshima Prefecture, has a population of 13,952 (as of November 1, 2021) and an aging rate of 43.1%. Tarumizu City is a "marginal city" rather than a "marginal village" where the population continues to decline. Japan as a whole is aging, and Tarumizu City can be considered to be at the forefront of this trend. In 2016, Tarumizu City and Kagoshima University signed an agreement to conduct the "Tarumizu Study" as part of the "establishment of a new model case for supporting healthy longevity and child rearing" with the aim of creating a city where everyone would want to live. The project is planned as a multi-professional elderly cohort study (a long-term, ongoing survey and analysis of the health status of citizens with the participation of a variety of specialists), with the participation of the Kagoshima Dietetic Association and Tarumizu City public health nurses, in addition to the various specialty laboratories of Kagoshima University. The purpose of this project is to create a prosperous and enjoyable local city by improving health orientation and social activism, thereby reducing medical and long-term care insurance costs and the number of people bedridden or requiring long-term care.
Summary of Activities
The Tarumizu Study is the primary project of Tarumizu City's "Tarumizu Vigor Project," an annual health survey that has been conducted since 2017. The survey covers more than 1,300 items from specialized fields; about 100 people a day are examined more than 10 times, and the data is transferred via wifi to a dedicated server installed at Kagoshima University. The data is printed as a health handbook for residents, and approximately three months after the checkups, a public information session is held to explain the concept of abnormal values and remedial measures. In addition, all the data will be made available for analysis with the approval of more than 2/3 of the responsible persons in each department, and will also be used for publication. It has been agreed that the Tarumi study will continue for about 20 years, and it is hoped that it will grow into a cohort study along with the Hisayama Town study and the Framingham study.
Expected Benefits
In addition to medical analysis of the elderly in Tarumizu City, health checkups from all aspects are expected to lead to healthier and longer lives. In addition, if a city is built where the elderly live long and healthy lives, it can be expected that the younger generation will settle in Tarumizu City as a comfortable place to live. Furthermore, Tarumizu City is a production center of yellowtail and yellowtail/kampachi, which contain high levels of unsaturated fatty acids with anti-atherosclerotic effects, and produces a lot of hot spring water for drinking that has antioxidant properties. We would like to develop a health promotion business that makes use of these resources.