Project 2: Smart Aging

Abstract

This chapter discusses Japan’s efforts to address the challenges encountered by its super-aging society through an AI-driven frailty-prevention program. Long life expectancy in Japan coupled with its declining working-age population has increased healthcare expenditures, thus emphasizing the necessity for preventive measures. The concept of “frailty” is introduced as an aging-related decline in physical and mental abilities (capacities), which can be reversed through appropriate interventions. A holistic and comprehensive approach to frailty prevention that addresses nutritional, physical, and social factors is proposed. The Institute of Gerontology at the University of Tokyo has developed a frailty screening program for community-dwelling older adult volunteers in Kashiwa City. The program uses simple tests to identify the risk of sarcopenia and encourages social participation. Data from these screenings, combined with other health datasets, are analyzed using AI to deliver personalized recommendations for preventing frailty. This initiative aims to integrate digital technology into community life, thus fostering a sustainable “smart-aging society”. This chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of evidence-based, resident-led programs and the necessity for robust data governance to realize a human-centric, multigenerational community within the framework of Society 5.0.