Epidemiological Research, "The Yambaru Health Promotion Project (YHPP)" 

YHPP

The "Yambaru Health Promotion Project (YHPP)" (Principal investigator: President Masanori Sunagawa, Co-director of PI: Kazuhiko Hanashiro, Advisor to the President for COI, Senior Associate Professor Jun Motomura) is an epidemiological study being conducted by Meio University as a Hirosaki University COI (Iwaki Health Promotion Project: IHPP) collaboration centre. The study is a cross-sectional survey (FY 2018-2023) with the current goal of 'improving Health Literacy (HL) and extending life expectancy and healthy life expectancy' and the ultimate goal of 'improving Quality Of Life (QOL: quality of life)'. The target population is approximately 300 people aged 20 to 64 years living in 12 municipalities in northern Okinawa Prefecture (Nago City, Kunigami Village, Ogimi Village, Higashi Village, Nakijin Village, Motobu Town, Onna Village, Ginoza Village, Kinobu Town, Ie Village, Iheya Village and Izena Village), and genetic data, blood test data, gut microflora data, abdominal echo ( The data includes genetic data, blood test data, intestinal microflora data, abdominal echo (liver and kidney contrast) imaging data, data on lifestyle habits (diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.), data on exercise function, data on mental health and data collected by the participating joint research institutes. The aim of the project is to analyse this 'health and medical big data' to understand the factors that increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, lifestyle-related diseases (fatty liver/NASH, heart disease, type 2 diabetes) and cancer (liver cancer, colorectal cancer) in the residents of 12 municipalities in northern Okinawa Prefecture, and to consider appropriate preventive measures for the residents of these municipalities. The aim of the Yambaru Health Promotion Project (YHPP) is to identify the factors that increase the risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases (fatty liver/NASH, heart disease, two-stage diabetes, two-stage diabetes) and cancer (liver cancer, colorectal cancer) and to consider appropriate preventive measures for the residents of the municipality.

Official website of YHPP:  https://www2.meio-u.ac.jp/ext-center/COI/index.html

Official website of IHPP:  https://coi.hirosaki-u.ac.jp/

Funding: Japan Science and Technology Agency (JPMJCE1302, JPMJCA2201, and JPMJPF2210)