Focal Point on Early Health Interventions

Tackling issues like low birth weight could help reduce the incidence later in life of diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. So why isn’t more being done?

Within four years researchers were able to significantly reduced the incidence of low birth weight, and its lifelong disease implications, in one Japanese city.

α-Defensin is used to evaluate microbiome health and smart tape remotely monitors uterine contractions.

A successful long-term partnership between Hokkaido University and Hitachi has recently yielded a study that helped to significantly reduce the number of underweight births in the city of Iwamizawa, Japan. We spoke to Professor Kiyohiro Houkin, President of Hokkaido University, Dr Norihiro Suzuki, Chief Technology Officer at Hitachi, and Dr Hideaki Koizumi, Emeritus Fellow of Hitachi, about innovations with global impact, and how they must first be able to transform the lives of local citizens.

Data on social connections is helping researchers forecast future health needs by city block, while energy grid modelling and digital innovation promises easy and independent neighbourhoods.

Studies investigate how a pregnant woman’s protein intake and Breast-feeding routine might be affecting an infant’s lifelong health.

University of Tsukuba researchers study how anti-infammatory foods, step-memorization exercises and sleep contribute to health in older people.

Japanese researchers are looking to standardize centuries-old kampo health checks, while developing a domestic supply of imported herbal products.