Supported by Shimadzu Corporation, the Ebetsu Iki-Iki Mirai Study is a joint cohort study investigating the relationship between food and cognitive function. It aims to identify cognitive decline at an early stage through blood analysis and help create a healthy longevity society.
The Ebetsu Iki-Iki Mirai Study is a joint cohort study launched in 2023. It plans to follow approximately 1,200 residents of Ebetsu, Hokkaido, for 10 years to investigate the relationship between dietary habits, daily functioning and cognitive function. Shimadzu Corporation, one of the participants, uses mass spectrometry technology to measure dementia-related substances in blood and is responsible for generating insights through data analysis that can contribute to the early detection of cognitive decline and longer healthy life expectancy.
In Japan, dementia and MCI, its precursor stage, affect a large number of people, making the creation of a healthy longevity society an urgent issue. The study aims to build a social system to reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment in an ageing society, with multiple institutions working together.
Blood analysis measures amyloid beta, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease, and AGEs. The study explores the possibility of visualising the future risk of cognitive decline based on changes in trace components in the blood. Shimadzu mass spectrometry instruments, including the MALDI-8020 and LCMS-8060NX, are used to visualise blood data and advance data analysis.
The social implementation of the research findings is another feature of the project. Led by SCFC, initiatives are under way to connect the findings to food development and recipe proposals. As of 2026, 10 major food companies are participating in the project.