The factors associated with cognitive decline among older adults include physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake. However, the long-term effects of concomitant physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake are unknown. This 16-year longitudinal study explored the joint effect of mitigating cognitive decline in a cohort of older Taiwanese individuals. Five population-based surveys (Taiwan Longitudinal Survey on Aging [1999–2015]) involving 4440 respondents over 53 years old in 1999 were conducted. Cognitive function was assessed using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). The demographic, socioeconomic, health-related, behavioral, and disease status covariates were adjusted in the regression analysis. Trends in cognitive decline were observed over 16 years. The risk of cognitive decline decreased by 63% when high physical activity and high fruit and vegetable intake were combined (odds ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval 0.23–0.59), indicating a potential combined effect of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake on mitigating cognitive decline. These personal actions are safe, effective, and economical approaches to health promotion and disease prevention.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hand hygiene interventions on the overall hand hygiene (HH) status of teaching instruction of hand hygiene in kindergartens, given the vulnerability of kindergarten children and their high risk due to infectious diseases and the current COVID-19 epidemic. We investigated the HH status of teachers from two kindergartens in the same community. The participants were recruited from 28 classes in both kindergartens. After completing the baseline survey, the intervention program consisted of three components: lectures on infectious diseases, lectures on HH, and seven-step hand washing techniques conducted in two kindergartens. The intervention program effectively increased teachers’ perceived disease susceptibility (p < 0.05), reduced the total bacterial colonization of children’s hands (p < 0.001), and improved the HH environment (p < 0.01). We recommend that health authorities or kindergartens adopt this HH intervention program to effectively improve the HH status in kindergartens and allow for preventive responses to the COVID-19 epidemic or other emerging infectious diseases.

No abstract

Factors which are associated with cognitive decline among elders include physical activity and the intake of fruit and vegetable, however, long-term effects and the concurrence of physical activity and fruit-vegetable intake are unknown. The present study explores this potential synergy for the mitigation of cognitive decline among a cohort of older Taiwanese in a 16-year longitudinal study. Five population-based surveys from the Taiwan Longitudinal Survey on Aging (1995–2015) involving 4,440 respondents over 53 years old in 1999 were studied. Trends in decrease of cognitive decline were observed for 16 years. Cognitive function was assessed using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Adjustments made on regression analysis included demographic, socioeconomic, health behavioral, and disease status covariates. The risk of cognitive decline decreased 63% when high physical activity group and high intake of fruit-vegetable group were combined (OR :0.37, 95% CI: 0.23–0.59). More physical activity was combined with greater fruit-vegetable intake, cognitive decline among older Taiwanese was mitigated. This indicates that there may be a synergistic effect of physical activity and fruit-vegetable intake on mitigating cognitive decline. Synergistic personal behavior is a safe, effective, and economical approach to health in later life.