• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2023

Due to the aging workforce in the construction industry in South Korea, the accident rate has been increasing. The cognitive abilities of older workers are closely related to both safety incidents and labor productivity. Therefore, there is a need to improve cognitive abilities through personalized training based on cognitive assessment results, using cognitive training content, in order to enable safe performance in labor-intensive environments. The provided cognitive training content includes concentration, memory, oreintation, attention, and executive functions. Difficulty levels were applied to each content to enhance user engagement and interest. To stimulate interest and encourage active participation of the participants, the difficulty level was automatically adjusted based on feedback from the MMSE-DS results and content measurement data. Based on the accumulated data, individual training scenarios have been set differently to intensively improve insufficient cognitive skills, and cognitive training programs will be developed to reduce safety accidents at construction sites through measured data and research. Through such simple cognitive training, it is expected that the reduction of accidents in the aging construction workforce can lead to a decrease in the social costs associated with prolonged construction periods caused by accidents.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.224-230
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• 2011

In order to develop silk peptide (SP) preparations possessing cognition-enhancing effect, several candidates were screened through in vitro assays, and their effectiveness was investigated in facilitated brain aging model rats. Incubation of brain acetyl-cholinesterase with SP-PN (1-1,000 ${\mu}g/ml$) led to inhibition of the enzyme activity up to 35%, in contrast to a negligible effect of SP-NN. The expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA of neural stem cells expressing ChAT gene (F3.ChAT) was increased by 24-hour treatment with 10 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ SP-NN (1.35 and 2.20 folds) and SP-PN (2.40 and 1.34 folds). Four-week subcutaneous injections with D-galactose (150 mg/kg) increased activated hippocampal astrocytes to 1.7 folds (a marker of brain injury and aging), decreased acetylcholine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid by 45-50%, and thereby impaired learning and memory function in passive avoidance and water-maze performances. Oral treatment with SP preparations (50 or 300 mg/kg) for 5 weeks from 1 week prior to D-galactose injection exerted recovering activities on acetylcholine depletion and brain injury/aging as well as cognitive deficit induced by D-galactose. The results indicate that SP preparations restore cognitive functions of facilitated brain aging model rats by increasing the release of acetylcholine, in addition to neuroprotective activity.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.549-567
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• 2019

The present study examined whether the relation between relative handgrip strength and cognitive function varied by paid employment status and participation of social activities among Korean older adults. A total of 3,376 Korean adults aged 65 or older were drawn from the 2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA). Weighted hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine moderating effects of paid employment status and social activities on the relation between relative handgrip strength and cognitive function. After adjusting for covariates, results show that relative handgrip strength has a positive association with cognitive function. Both paid employment status and social activities have positive associations with cognitive function and moderate the relationship between relative handgrip strength and cognitive function. These significant moderating effects show that participating in paid employment and social activities buffer against the effect of lower handgrip strength on cognitive function. Findings from the present study highlight the significant role of active aging in older adults'cognitive function. Implications are discussed in a cultural context.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2024

Background and purpose: The anti-aging standard forest healing program (ASFHP), which uses forest therapy, was reported to be effective in improving psychological, physical, and cognitive functions. However, there are several challenges to directly visiting the forest. This study aimed to investigate the impact of multi-session ASFHP with forest visit on the mental and physical health of the older people with visits to forest facilities and compared them with those of the same program conducted indoors. Methods: Individuals aged over 70 years with concerns about cognitive decline were recruited at dementia relief centers and divided into control and experimental groups. A total of 33 people were administered ASFHP under the supervision of a forest therapy instructor. The control group stayed indoors, while the experimental group visited a forest healing center and repeated the program 20 weeks. Results: The multiple-session ASFHP positively affected cognitive impairment screening test (CIST) total scores (p=0.002), memory (p=0.014), Korean version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status total scores (p<0.001), immediate recall (p=0.001), visuospatial/construction (p<0.001), language (p<0.001), forest healing standard questionnaire total scores (p=0.002), and cognitive function (p=0.019), regardless of location. The forest visits during the ASFHP showed positive effects on orientation (p=0.035), delayed recall (p=0.042), emotional stability (p=0.032), physical activity (p=0.005), and health (p=0.022). The CIST scores of the memory domain were the strongest indicator of the multiple-session ASFHP effects. Conclusions: The 20-week multi-session ASFHP with forest visit showed effects on cognitive improvement and physical and emotional stability compared to indoor education.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Normal aging causes changes in the brain volume, connection, function and cognition. The brain changes with increases in age and difference of gender varies at all levels. Studies about normal brain aging using various brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables such as gray and white matter structural imaging, proton spectroscopy, apparent diffusion coefficient, diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI are reviewed. Total volume of brain increases after birth but decreases after 9 years old. During adulthood, total volume of brain is relatively stable. After 35 years old, brain shrinks gradually. The changes of gray and white matters by aging show different features. N-acetylaspartate decreases or remains unchanged but choline, creatine and myo-inositol increase with aging. Apparent diffusion coefficient decreases till 20 years old and then becomes stable during adulthood and increase after 60 years old. Diffusion tensor properties in white matter tissue are variable during aging. Resting-state functional connectivity decreases after middle age. Structural and functional brain changes with normal aging are important for studying various psychiatric diseases such as dementia, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Our review may be helpful for studying longitudinal changes of these diseases and successful aging.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.71-87
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• 2009

The purpose of this study were to identify factors of successful aging and to suggest a successful aging model of elderly using Rowe & Kahn's model of successful aging. The components of the factors consisted of healthful status, physical·cognitive functions, psychosocial characteristics and productive activities. Data were collected from 2,958 elderly who has spouse and aged 65 above in KOSA Panel. Data were analyzed by Amos program 7.0 version. The statistical techniques were used descriptive statistics χ² and covariance structural analysis. Major findings of this study were as follows; Healthful status were positively related to increasing effort on physical·cognitive functions as well as psychosocial characteristics. Physical·cognitive functions were positively and directly related to psychosocial characteristics and productive activities. Psychosocial characteristics were positively and directly related to productive activities. Physical·cognitive functions and psychosocial characteristics were increased by receiving a direct and positive effort from healthful status. Productive activities were increased by receiving a direct and positive effort from physical·cognitive functions and psychosocial characteristics. Specific and realistic measures should be prepared for successful aging not only for present elderly but also for the future elderly people. Further research should be continued and encouraged to improve the implications for the successful aging especially in korea.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.491-502
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• 2020

This study was aimed to verify moderated mediation effect between cognitive-flexibility and subjective economic status in the process that aging anxiety have an effect on psychological well-being. For this, online survey was conducted to 317(M:159, F:158) adults who ranged from 40 to 64 years old. Survey was conducted from 2017.9.3. to 9.28. Correlation analysis, regression analysis, and significant test was done through SPSS 21.0 and SPSS Macro. First, the analysis showed that meaningful correlation was found among aging anxiety, cognitive flexibility, subjective economic status and psychological well-being. Secondly, cognitive flexibility was found to have meaningful partial mediation effect(β = .530, p < .001) in the relationship between aging anxiety and psychological well-being. Thirdly, subjective economic status was found to have a meaningful moderation effect(β = .080, 𝜟R²=.006, p <.05) in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and psychological well-being. Fourthly, verification result by SPSS Macro showed that, mediation effect of cognitive flexibility and subjective economic status was existent in the relationship of aging anxiety and psychological well-being. Lastly, implications and limitations of this study and suggestions for future studies were discussed.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.218-230
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• 2018

According to the burst of aged people, researchers have focused on aging-related diseases. Cognitive impairment including Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the representative diseases related to aging, has no treatment option until now. Recently, it has been revealed that systemic inflammation plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of AD. Previous studies have suggested the association between poor oral health and cognitive impairment. Poor oral health can cause dental caries, chronic periodontitis, multiple tooth loss, and poor chewing ability, etc. Especially, periodontitis is a well-known chronic inflammatory disease and affects cognitive impairment directly and indirectly by inflammatory products mediators. Therefore, reduction of pathogenic microbial burden and inflammatory products by treating periodontitis can be a therapeutic modality to prevent cognitive impairment or to slow down the progression of it. Future studies are necessary to elucidate the causal relations and plausible mechanisms between poor oral health and cognitive impairment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.453-467
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the cumulative effects of depressive symptoms on cognitive function over time in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Data were investigated from 2,533 community-dwelling older adults who participated in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) from the 5th (2014) to the 8th wave (2020). The association between cumulative depressive symptoms and cognitive function was identified through multiple regression analysis. Results: When the multiple regression analysis was conducted from each wave, the current depressive symptoms scores and cognitive function scores were negatively associated, regardless of the waves (B5th = - 0.26, B6th = - 0.26, B7th = - 0.26, and B8th = - 0.27; all p < .001). Further, when all the previous depressive symptoms scores were added as explanatory variables in the 8th wave, the current one (B8th = - 0.09, p < .001) and the previous ones (B5th = - 0.11, B6th = - 0.09, and B7th = - 0.13; all p < .001) were also negatively associated with the cognitive function score. The delta R², which indicates the difference between the model's R² with and without the depressive symptoms scores, was greater in the model with all the previous and current depressive symptoms scores (6.4%) than in the model with only the current depressive symptoms score (3.6%). Conclusion: Depressive symptoms in older adults have a long-term impact. This results in an accumulated adverse effect on the cognitive function. Therefore, to prevent cognitive decline in older adults, we suggest detecting their depressive symptoms early and providing continuous intervention to reduce exposure to long-term depressive symptoms.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.27-45
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify between the successful aging-related predictive factors and the successful aging in the middle aged office. The predictive factors of successful aging such as subjective health condition, cognitive functions, self-esteem, and social support were confirmed by the existing literature. The population of the study was the middle aged office employees, who are generally defined an age group from 40 to 60. The sample of this study was targeted to employees working at companies registered to securities, KSDAQ, and KONEX in Korea. SPSS WIN 23.0 and AMOS 21.0, and M-plus 6.12 were used for the data analysis. The findings of this study were presented below. First, the result of the structural relationship between the predictive factors of successful aging (subjective health condition, cognitive function, self-esteem, and social support) and successful aging was appropriate as RMSEA=.059, TLI=.932, CFI=.944. Second, subjective health condition and social support were significant variables for successful aging but cognitive function and self-esteem were not significant. Third, social support, which is a social factor, was the most influential among other variables. Based on the results, theoretical and practical implications were presented.