Kaneko K.Sasamori F.Okuhara M.Maruo S.J.Ashida K.Tabuchi H.Akasaki H.Kobayashi K.Aoyagi Y.Watanabe N.Nishino T.Terasawa K.Mahidol University2023-06-182023-06-182022-01-01International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare (2022)20564902https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/86247Purpose: This study aims to evaluate a human rights-informed dementia prevention program promoting better health and social care among older adults. In this study, the authors examined whether a dual-task training would improve cognition in healthy older adults. Design/methodology/approach: Individuals attending the systematic health education program for older adults based in Japan were recruited for study inclusion, and divided into a dual-task training group (TG) and a control group (CG). The TG underwent 90 min of a weekly dual-task training for 12 weeks. Severity of dementia was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test. Brain function was assessed using a go/no-go task paradigm, during which cerebral blood flow was additionally measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to quantify oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb). Findings: MMSE total score, number of errors in the go/no-go tasks and oxy-Hb values showed significant improvements in the TG. Research limitations/implications: Owing to the small number of participants allocated to the CG, the results must be interpreted with caution. Replication and further validation based on large-scale, randomized-controlled trials is warranted. Practical implications: This study highlights potential benefits of incorporating an early prevention training for dementia into a human rights-friendly health education program. Social implications: This study suggests a potential means to reduce costs of social security and health care by introducing a human rights-informed dementia prevention program. Originality/value: The results suggest that dual-task training may improve cognitive function in healthy older adults, thereby contributing to better health and improvement of social health care, based on a human rights-informed health education program for the prevention of dementia.MedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1108/IJHRH-12-2021-02062-s2.0-8514338421620564910