Social innovation
Medical & healthcare, Happy longevity, Aging society, Centenarian

SONIC: A longitudinal study based on the frameworkof gerontology considering the super-aging society
Graduate School of Human Sciences
Professor Yasuyuki Gondo
https://researchmap.jp/ygondo

Abstract
Considering the ever-increasing aging of society, research on
aging, especially those called the oldest old, is needed. The purpose of the SONIC study is to elucidate the aging process fromyoung old (70+) to oldest old (90+) and the factors involved inhealthy longevity and well-being for them. The SONIC study hasreported various results, from micro-level results on identification ofplasma protein glycans as potential markers of cognitive decline tomacro-level results on the relationship between the local environment, social capital, and mental health.

have passed since SONIC data collection started, and the oldest
participant has exceeded 100 years of age. To date, the SONIC
study has reported that psychological changes associated withaging, called gerotranscendence, are important for well-being inolder adults (Figure 2). We believe continued research will allow us
to construct an ideal interdisciplinary aging model for 100 years oflife.

Social innovation▍ Background & Results
Medical schools have led most epidemiological studies of olderpeople in Japan. A larger number of results have been reported
on factors related to physical health and negative aspects of psychological health, such as depression and dementia. However, few
studies focus on positive aspects such as happiness and well-being, especially in the oldest old. Our previous research has shownthat psychological health does not decline in the oldest old, while
physical functions and abilities of daily living decline. To clarify
such complex phenomena across multiple research areas, theSONIC study was started in collaboration with members at Osaka
University and other external research institutions under the gerontology framework (Figure 1). In total, over 3000 older adults from 70
to 90 participated. A large number of variables from different discipline were collected (Table 1).
The most striking feature of the SONIC study is the focus on thepsychological concept called gerotranscendence. In a cross-sectional analysis, physical health and cognitive function significantly
decline in older age groups. In contrast, mental health and well-being do not differ across age groups. Gerotranscendence washigher in the older age groups (Figure 2). It was also found thatgerotranscendence was related to mental health in all age groups,
with the association becoming stronger the older the age group.
Follow-up studies have revealed that gerotranscendence increases
significantly from age 70 to 80 but does not increase much afterage 80. Furthermore, gerotranscendence was also associated with
self-evaluation of oral function. As mentioned above, we could confirm that the development of gerotranscendence is related to thevarious dimensions of well-being in older adults.

Figure 1 Outline of SONIC study

Table 1 Measurements in SONIC study▍ Significance of the research and Future perspective
Aging phenomena in a human take place with reciprocal influences on physical, psychological, and social aspects. Therefore,a study designed interdisciplinary and gerontological framework isnecessary. In addition, considering human aging, it is necessary
to accumulate data longitudinally over a long period. 12 years

Figure 2 Higher gerotranscendence in the oldest old

P a t e n t
Gondo, Yasuyuki; Masui, Yukie; Kamide, Kei et al. SONIC Study: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Older People as Part of a Centenarian Study. In N.A.
Pachana (ed.), Encyclopedia of Geropsychology, Springer Science Business Media Singapore. 2015. doi: 10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_182-1
Gondo, Yasuyuki; Nakagawa, Takeshi; Masui, Yukie. A new concept of successful aging in the oldest-old−Development of gerotranscendence and its
influence on the psychological well-being. Annual review of gerontology and geriatrics Volume 33, Robine, J. M., Jagger, C. and Crimmins, E., (Eds.),
Springer, New York. 2013.2. doi: 10.1891/0198-8794.33.109
T r e a t i s e Miura, Yuri; Hashii, Noritaka; Tsumoto, Hiroki et al. SONIC (Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians). Change in
N-Glycosylation of plasma proteins in Japanese semisupercentenarians. PLoS One. 2015; 10: e0142645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142645
Mihara, Yusuke; Matsuda, Ken-Ichi; Hatta, Koudai et al. Relationship between gerotranscendence and oral health-related quality of life. J Oral Rehabil.
2018; 45: 805-809. doi: 10.1111/joor.12691
Ryuno, Hirochika; Kamide, Kei; Gondo, Yasuyuki et al. Longitudinal association of hypertension and diabetes mellitus with cognitive functioning in a
general 70-year-old population: the SONIC study. Hypertens Res. 2017; 40: 665-670. doi: 10.1038/hr.2017.15
http://www.sonic-study.jp/URL
http://gerontology-osaka.jp/index.html
K e y w o r d oldest old, gerotranscendence, well-being