Photo/Illutration Morito Monden, right, chairman of the Japanese Medical Science Federation, and Kozo Nakamura, director of Towa Hospital, on April 1 in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward (Mirei Jinguji)

Japan’s largest academic medical association is working with other health care providers, welfare institute staff and educators to find ways to keep those 80 and older healthy and independent. 

“With society continuing to gray, various age-related problems can result in the onset of diseases,” said Morito Monden, chairman of the Japanese Medical Science Federation, at a news conference on April 1. 

The federation released a statement about its 80 Go campaign, designed to extend healthy life expectancy through preventing age-related frailty and locomotive syndrome among the elderly.

Citing the research outcomes from entities such as the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, the statement said those who are 80 should be able to walk 11 meters within 10 seconds, or at a speed of 4 kph.

Those who cannot will likely need nursing care in 10 years.

The 80 Go drive was proposed to help those in their 80s remain active.

Frailty is the condition of having lowered physical and psychological abilities stemming from a reduced resistance to illness. Locomotive syndrome is lessened mobility linked to joints and other organs being impaired. 

Such conditions, combined with the progression of other disorders, can cause a host of problems for the elderly. Those with frailty and locomotive syndrome are said to be four times more likely to require nursing care.

“We will tackle frailty and locomotive syndrome by working with those from different fields,” Monden said. 

The issues can be bypassed or alleviated with healthier dietary habits and exercise, according to the statement.

The federation added that sports and healthy eating during people's younger years are crucial for overcoming frailty and locomotive syndrome later on.

The statement was put out under the names of 57 academic societies that are part of the federation, as well as 23 non-member groups in academia and elsewhere.

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