日本の中高年期の住民における自己の認知症発症に対する強い心配に関連する心身の健康特性

Mental and Physical Health Characteristics Associated to Severe Concerns About the Developing of Dementia in Middle-Aged and Elderly Residents of Japan

要旨

　目的：本研究は，日本の地域住民の抱く自己の認知症発症に対する心配の程度と関連する心身の健康特性について年代別（64歳以下，65歳以上）に明らかにすることを目的とした．

　方法：40歳以上の地域住民を対象に，無記名自記式質問紙調査を行った．認知症発症に対する心配の程度についての回答の割合と心身の健康との関連について検討を行った．

　結果：自己の認知症発症に対しおおいに心配している者は，64歳以下の者60名（27.1％），65歳以上の者75名（22.8％）であった．両年代とも，年齢・性別などの個人属性と自己の認知症発症に対する心配の有無との間に有意な関連は見られず，健康不安・ストレス・記憶力の低下の有無との間には有意な関連が見られた．

　結論：40歳以上の地域住民の約25％は自己の認知症発症に対し強い心配の感情を抱き，年代に関係なく，精神・神経的な要因が強い心配と関連する可能性が考えられた．

　Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the mental and physical health characteristics associated with the degree of "concern about the developing dementia" of local residents in Japan by age group(64 years old or younger, 65 years old or older), and to examine possible factors related to feelings about the developing dementia.

　Methods: This was a descriptive epidemiological study using anonymous self-administered questionnaires for community residents aged ≥40 years. We examined the relationship between the proportion of respondents who responded to the level of concern about developing dementia and their physical and mental health.

　Results: Those who were greatly concerned about dementia development were 60 individuals(27.1%) aged ≤64 years and 75 individuals(22.8%) aged ≥65. In both age groups, there was no significant correlation between personal attributes, such as age and sex, and the presence or absence of concerns about dementia development. Conversely, a significant correlation was found between the presence or absence of health anxiety, stress, and memory decline and concerns about dementia development.

　Conclusions: Approximately 25% of local residents aged 40 years and older had severe feelings of concern about the developing dementia, and regardless of age, it was thought that psychiatric and neurological factors may be associated with severe concern.