Severity of Neurological Disorders in Elderly Residents of a Farming Town in Kyushu, Japan; Prevalence of Disability in Activities of Daily Living

Abstract

Activities of daily living (ADL) were evaluated in 421 elderly people, aged 60-95, who resided in 27 randomly selected communities in the town of Mifune, Japan. The disability of ADL increased with age, and was particularly rapid after age 80. Most of the elderly were independent; the prevalence of dependent elderly ranged from 0.7% (in feeding) to 9.5% (in working). The prevalence of dependent elderly increased markedly after age 80 in all ADL items, especially those related to behavior such as ambulation, stair climbing, transfers, and working (i.e., employment, housekeeping, etc.). These results emphasize the importance of community health care of the elderly for preventing and treating neurological disorders which comprised the main cause of disabilities of behavioral ADL.