Previous studies have frequently reported that those with a driver’s license have better physical and cognitive functions than those without. However, there are many people in the world who do not need or who cannot have a driver’s license. We hypothesized that if the non-driver’s license group had the same or better physical and cognitive functioning as the driver’s license group, they could lead healthy lives without the risk of functional decline or loss of functioning due to surrendering their licenses or giving up driving. The subjects were 47 community-dwelling older adults. We measured their physical function and cognitive function and performed psychological assessment via the following tests: grip strength, Timed Up and Go test, walking speed, Five Times Sit to Stand test, Functional Reach test, Two-Step Test, Mini-Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test, Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. In previous studies, it has been said that having a driver’s license provides good physical, cognitive, and psychological functions. However, in this study, loneliness and executive function were strongly influenced by age and sex, and no direct relationship to a driver’s license was suggested. Rather, non-driver license holders may be relieved because there is no risk of accidents due to driving, and there is no possibility of a suddenly decline in physical or cognitive function due to revocation of a driver’s license.

Motor imagery is often used as a training method to improve physical performance. Previous studies have often reported that reduced motor imagery is more likely to occur in older adults and stroke patients. However, it has also been reported that it is difficult to imagine exercises that cannot be performed. Therefore, we hypothesized that this may also have occurred in young people who were physically able to exercise but who were restricted by COVID-19 lockdowns, however, we could find no studies that investigated the impact of restricting outings. In this study, 83 healthy young people were measured for physical performance (maximum walking speed, grasp strength, Timed Up and Go test, imagined Timed Up and Go test, functional reach test, and five chair stand test). It was found that, while restricting outings did not influence physical performance in the subjects, it did influence motor imagery. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that training with motor imagery may not generate adequate actual motor imagery when restrictions are imposed on activities.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of any error (delta; ∆) between the image of one’s own walking rhythm and the actual walking rhythm and physical activity, as a new motor imagery assessment. Methods: The subjects were classified into two groups: a high activity group (HA-Group) having high physical activity with less than four hours of sitting time per day, and a low activity group (LA-Group) having low physical activity with more than four hours of daily sitting time. Visual rhythm, auditory rhythm, mental comfortable walking rhythm, and mental maximum walking rhythm were used to assess new motor imagery. Their beats per minute were measured and any error (delta; ∆) from the actual rhythm was calculated: ∆ visual rhythm, ∆ auditory rhythm, ∆ mental normal gait rhythm, and ∆ mental maximal gait rhythm. Results: When comparing the two groups, the HA-Group had significantly higher ∆ visual rhythm, lower ∆ auditory rhythm, higher ∆ mental comfortable walking rhythm, and lower ∆ mental maximum walking rhythm ability than the LA-Group. Furthermore, in an ANCOVA with age, ∆visual rhythm, and ∆auditory rhythm as adjustment factors, the HA-Group had significantly lower ∆mental maximum walking rhythm than the LA-Group. Conclusions: These results showed that the rhythmic assessment of the imagery of maximum walking was associated with stationery time. It is possible that the more inaccurate the imagery of maximum walking, the longer the sitting or lying time.

The aging of family caregivers and the challenges of long-distance caregiving attributed to the increase in the number of elderly individuals living alone have raised concerns about dementia caregiving in Japan. Additionally, with the shifts in family dynamics due to declining birth rates and an extended average lifespan, adapting support strategies for family caregivers is necessary. Thus, it is necessary to measure the caregiving competence of family caregivers early and effectively. However, a comprehensive caregiving competence scale tailored to dementia, including aspects such as caregiving burden, affirmation, and coping, is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a Caregiving Competence Scale for Dementia (CCSD) for primary family caregivers caring for individuals with dementia. This study focused on primary family caregivers caring for individuals with cognitive impairment and various degrees of dementia. The initial version of the CCSD was developed, and a questionnaire survey was conducted to validate its structural validity and reliability. A total of 150 participants were included in the analysis. The exploratory factor analysis identified five factors with 27 items: Factor 1: “Positive Emotions and Awareness,” Factor 2: “Presence or Absence of Consultation Partners and Family Support,” Factor 3: “Caregiving Burden and Coping Skills,” Factor 4: “Dementia Literacy,” and Factor 5: “Engagement and Emotional Control.” The confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good model fit (comparative fit index = 0.905 and root mean square error of approximation = 0.072). The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the scale was 0.892. The CCSD, comprising 27 items covering five factors, has been successfully developed as a measurement scale. Measuring caregiving competence contributes to developing targeted support strategies for primary family caregivers and facilitating appropriate interventions.

Dementia is the leading cause of long-term care needs among older adults in Japan (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2023). With the rapid aging of the population, dementia prevention and car...