• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.197-220
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• 1999

Family, Self or State as a Desired Source of Support for the Elderly As Korean society has undergone rapid socioeconomic transformation and reached the final stage of its demographic transition, the central emphasis of population policies in Korea has shifted from fertility and population control to aging issues. Recently, it has been advocated that the Korean government should provide more intensive public services to supplement self-care and family caregiving, heightening the need to know more about the norms and expectations of old-age support and how they will change. Using the Survey of the Living Status of the Korean Elderly in 1994, this study investigates the extent to which the Korean elderly themselves view family, self, or the state as desired sources of support. The multinomial log it model analysis reveals that the elderly without a son are less likely to emphasize the traditional view of family, while economically and physically better off elderly are more likely to favor the view of self-support. However, the idea that the emphasis on the 'state responsibility' may be found among those elderly who are in need of financial help and in poor health is not supported. The implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.90-98
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• 2023

Objectives : Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide and is characterized by the loss of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). In a previous in vitro study, we demonstrated that Sihogyeji-tang (SG), Sihosogan-tang (SS), and Sihocheonggan-tang (SC) have the potential to be candidate medicines for PD. This study aimed to compare the neuroprotective effect of SG, SS, and SC using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophridine (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model. Methods : Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally administered with 30 mg/kg of MPTP for 5 days and orally administered SG, SS and SC for 12 days from the first MPTP injection. Motor function was assessed using the pole test and the rotarod test. Dopaminergic neuronal survival in the SN and striatum was evaluated through tyrosine-hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. Results : MPTP administration resulted in behavioral impairment and dopaminergic neuronal death in the SN and striatum. In the pole test, treatment with SG, SS, and SC alleviated the MPTP-induced motor dysfunction on day 5 and 12. In the rotarod test, SS and SG alleviated the MPTP-induced motor dysfunction on day 5, while only SS showed improvement on day 12. SS and SG significantly protected dopaminergic neurons in the SN from MPTP toxicity, and all three compounds (SG, SS, and SC) showed significant protection in the striatum. Notably, SS demonstrated superior efficacy in suppressing MPTP-induced motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neuronal death compared to SG and SC. Conclusions : These findings suggest that SS is the most effective formula among SG, SS, and SC for PD, indicating its potential role in the treatment of PD.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2001

Body antioxidant status is an important factor for the prevention of many chronic diseases in the elderly. This study was done to evaluate the nutritional status of antioxidant vitamins of the elderly by determining their intakes and plasma levels. It was also aimed to compare daily intakes and plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins by sex of age. Subjects were 225 elderly persons aged over 60 years old (63 males, 162 females) living in Ulsan area. Subjects were divided by groups according to age(＜ 65, 65－74, 75) and sex. Dietary Intakes were assessed by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires(FFQ). Plasma Vitamin C level was measured by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method and plasma levels of vitamin E, A and ${\beta}$-carotene were measured by HFLC. The average intakes of vitamin C were 104.9g(150% of RDA) and 104.4g(149％ of RDA) in the elder1y males and females, respectively. Vitamin C intake of the elderly was significantly decreased by aging but not different by sex. The average intakes of vitamin A were 678$\mu\textrm{g}$RE(96.9% of RDA) and 604$\mu\textrm{g}$:RE(86.2% of RDA) in elderly males and females, respectively. The average levels of Plasma vitamin C were 6.22mg/L and 11.45mg/L in the elderly males and females, respectively. Those levels are within normal range(6-20mg/L). However the percentage of the elderly males with deficiency(＜ 2mg/L) and marginal level(2-4mg/L) of vitamin C were 27.4% and 16.1%, respectively. Plasma retinaol levels were 0.39mg/L for the elderly males and 0.37mg/L for the elderly females, which were within normal range. But the percentage of subjects with marginal level were 28% ill both males and females. Plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol levels of the elderly were lower than normal range(5-12mg/L). Plasma levels of vitamin C, E and ${\beta}$-carotene, except retinol, were significantly higher in the elderly females compared to males and showed significant decrease by aging.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2024

Purpose: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic condition marked by persistent elevated blood sugar levels resulting from insulin resistance. The effective management of diabetes mellitus involves strict regulation of the blood glucose levels. This study examined the effects of Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) berry (AOB) on insulin resistance and hyperglycemia using a type 2 diabetes mellitus animal model. Methods: Eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups. The control group received a basal diet, while the high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) group was fed a HFHS diet containing 27% sucrose and 33% lard for 12 weeks. The low AOB (LAOB) and high AOB (HAOB) groups were offered a HFHS diet with a 0.5% and 1.0% AOB extract, respectively. Results: The HAOB group showed significantly lower epididymal fat pad weight than the HFHS group. The LAOB and HAOB groups showed lower serum glucose levels and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance values than the HFHS group, and the HAOB group has lower serum insulin levels than the HFHS group. Supplementation with HAOB decreased serum cholesterol levels significantly compared with the HFHS group. The consumption of LAOB and HAOB reduced the serum triglyceride and hepatic total lipids and triglyceride levels compared to the HFHS group. In addition, LAOB and HAOB consumption in mice fed a HFHS diet increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase protein expression. Insulin receptor substrate-2 protein expression in the HAOB group was significantly higher than the HFHS group. Conclusion: AOB can alleviate hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus partly by mitigating insulin resistance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1841-1846
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• 2009

Menopause is often associated with the incidence of several chronic diseases including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective regimen that has been found to prevent these diseases in postmenopausal women. However, HRT is accompanied by an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ecklonia cava, a kind of seaweed, extract on bone turnover markers in symptomatic menopausal women. For this study, the following four groups of 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated over 6 weeks: normal rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON) and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Ecklonia cava extracts. The optimum extraction temperature and solvent of Ecklonia cava were found to be $80^{\circ}C$ and 80% ethanol. We measured the osteocalcin and CTx content, enzyme ALP activity in serum and collagen content in the cartilage, bone, skin and lungs. We found that the levels of indicators of bone metabolism such as ALP, osteocalcin and CTx were lower in rats in the Ecklonia cava extract group than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the collagen contents in the bone, cartilage, skin and lungs decreased in response to ovariectomy, but the levels of collagen were greater in the bone of rats that were treated with Ecklonia cava extract than in the bone of rats in the OVX-CON group. According to these results, we were able to know the effects of Ecklonia cava extract on bone aging in ovariectomized rats. Consequently, we expect Ecklonia cava extract to have an effect on bone aging in postmenopausal women.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.207-221
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• 2016

As greater numbers of fill dams and reservoirs become old, the risks of damage or embankment collapse increases. However, few studies have considered the deterioration and hazard classification of the internal core layers of fill dams. This study reports the results of geotechnical investigations of 13 earth-cored fill dams in Korea, based on no-water borehole drilling, Standard Penetration Test, and 2D and 3D electrical resistivity surveys along with in situ and laboratory testing. High-capacity no-water boring minimized core layer disturbance while providing continuous core sample recovery. The results allow the classification of potential hazards related to the existing core layers based on both visual inspection of the recovered samples and the results of engineering surveys and tests. Four types of potential hazard are classified: locally fluidized core with a high water content, rapid water inflow to a borehole, cores with granular materials, and relatively low stiffness of core. Among these, the locally fluidized core is the most critical hazard that requires remedial action because it is related to the potential internal flow path and internal erosion. The other three hazard types are of medium importance and require careful monitoring and regular inspection. Of note, there was no correlation between age and core deterioration. The results are expected to aid the safe management and potential upgrading of aging cored fill dams.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.81-94
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• 2021

Objective : Response time plays a prominent part in research on cognitive ability and the aging effect. This study aimed to identify the impact of cognitive ability on information processing by conducting cognitive response time (CRT) using a computer program. Methods : This study was conducted in 30 normal elderly (NE) and 30 elderly with amnestic MCI (aMCI), aged 65-79 years old living in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. The results were analyzed using the statistical analysis program R 4.0.2 (University of Auckland, New Zealand). Results : In the three sub-areas of CRT, the total response time showed a significant difference depending on group or age, and the error rate showed a significant difference depending on age or group in some sub-areas. In the aMCI group, the performance of CRT significantly correlated with that of the overall cognition and memory test. Conclusion : Information processing depending on aging or cognitive ability and the differential performance of processing speed could be observed through CRT. The performance of this test was found to be significantly correlated with that of the overall cognition and memory test. Therefore, CRT could be used meaningfully as a simplified tool to predict the initial cognitive disorder of the elderly in the community.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.141-150
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• 2020

This paper studies the activities characteristics of the elderly aged 60-75 years old who can take care of themselves in the community public space, and puts forward the design principles of the community public space in the aging society. Using the methodology of experience design, through naturalistic observation, questionnaires, interviews and shadowing, the spatial and temporal characteristics of daily activities of the elderly are analyzed. In the community public space, the behavior of the elderly is essentially a social activity to get more attention and communication. This determines the needs, time, frequency and duration of activities of the elderly in community public space. In the community public space, the behavior of the elderly has the characteristics of long-term and regularity, and its behavior changes slightly with the space, the objective factors that affect the elderly are gender, age and climate. The subjective factors are lifestyle, family members and income level.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.67-77
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• 2020

Purpose : Recently, Korea has entered an aging society due to the steadily increasing proportion of the elderly population. Additionally, elderly suicidal rate in Korea is the highest among OECD member countries. Because old age is a time when all functions are weakened physically, mentally, and socially, negative experiences, including depression and poor quality of life in the elderly, may lead to suicidal intentions. This study attempts to understand the relationship between depression and quality of life experienced by the elderly and their suicidal intentions. Methods : The survey was conducted from January 2 to March 31, 2019 by administering a questionnaire targeting people aged ≥ 65 years, who were registered at public health centers located in U-city, Gyeonggi-do. In total, 1,015 copies of data were used for the final analysis. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. The χ2 test was performed to investigate the relationship between the demographic characteristics and the suicidal intentions of the elderly subjects. The t-test was performed to determine the relationship between suicidal intentions, depression, and quality of life in elderly subjects. Results : The study results revealed that 168 people (16.6 %) had thought of suicide and 3.2 % had actually tried to commit suicide. The reasons for suicidal thoughts were family problems in 60 (5.6 %), economic problems in 49 (4.6 %), and physical illness in 44 (4.1 %). Those with suicidal intentions had higher levels of depression (t=11.712, p<.001) and higher quality of life scores (t=-9.565, p<.001). Conclusion : Based on these results, it is proposed that a suicide prevention policy and program that can improve the elderly's depression and quality of life is necessary.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2005

As Korea has approached the aging society, older Koreans have become an important force in restaurant sales today. To succeed with this silver market, it is important for restaurant managers to know who they are and which factor influence the older Koreans' eating-out decision making process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the elderly consumers financial independency on restaurant selection process. Data were collected from 178 older consumers above 55 years old and analyzed using the descriptive statistic analysis, MANOVA, and one-way ANOVA. The results showed that the elderly consumers financial independency significantly influenced the decision making process in determining where they eat out Significant differences were found between high income group and low income group in the Problem Recognition Step(Wilks' Lambda=0.776, F=3.796), Information Search Step(Wilks' Lambda=0.779, F=2.959), Alternative Evaluation Step (I :Wilks' Lambda=0.835, F=1.748/ II :Wilks' Lambda=0.764, F=3.212), and Purchase Decision Step(Wilks' Lambda=0.849, F=2.412), except the Post-Purchase Behavior(Wilks' Lambda=0.933, F=1.179). The more financially independent older consumers were, the more directly they were involved in the eating out decision making process. Older consumers with higher income and more personal property were likely to 'propose to eat out by themselves'(F=10.986), to obtain restaurant information from the 'printed materials'(F=9.707), to consider 'convenient location' as most important factor when they eat out(F=5.594), and to go to 'family restaurant'(F=7.067), 'Japanese restaurant'(F=7.391) and 'fine dining restaurants'(F-=6.382). In conclusion, we found that the elderly consumers financial independency did influence the eating-out decision making process. Considering that older Korean will become a financially independent consumer and will be eating away from home more often, food service operations should actively position themselves for this market and develop the market-driven menus and services to meet their needs and expectations.