Tomoki Tanaka

Tomoki Tanaka is a Project Lecturer at the Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, and is also affiliated with the Institute of Gerontology (IOG). He serves as a Special Appointee (Data Analysis Advisor) for Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. He previously held positions as a JSPS Research Fellow (DC), Project Researcher, and Project Assistant Professor at the Institute of Gerontology, The University of Tokyo, and has been in his current role since 2025. He received his PhD in Medicine from The University of Tokyo and completed the Graduate Program in Gerontology (WINGS-GLAFS), The University of Tokyo. He also holds an MSc in Health Management from Keio University. He was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

With the goal of extending healthy life expectancy and building vibrant community societies, his research centers on epidemiology and community implementation of frailty prevention, translating evidence into policy and practice.

• Epidemiology of frailty prevention and healthy life expectancy
• Design, scale-up, and effectiveness evaluation of resident-led frailty prevention programmes
• Evaluation of long-term care prevention policies using real-world data (medical and long-term care claims, etc.)
• Development and validation of data-driven, participatory community intervention models through multi-sector collaboration
• Development and validation of practical screening tools and risk scales for community use
• Mechanistic understanding of frailty with a focus on social determinants and multidimensional pathways
• Oral frailty (declines in oral function) and health outcomes
• Geriatric pharmacotherapy (polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescribing) and health outcomes

For the most recent and complete list of publications and other outputs, please refer to Research Map.

1. Tanaka T, Hirano H, Ikebe K, Ueda T, Iwasaki M, Minakuchi S, Arai H, Akishita M, Kozaki K, Iijima K. Consensus statement on “Oral frailty” from the Japan Geriatrics Society, the Japanese Society of Gerodontology, and the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024 Nov;24(11):1111-1119.
2. Tanaka T, Lyu W, Hirano H, Shirobe M, Iijima K. Oral frailty and the trajectories of psychological well-being and cognitive function: findings from the 12-year community-based Kashiwa study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2026 Feb 5;81(3):glag006.
3. Tanaka T, Hirano H, Ikebe K, Ueda T, Iwasaki M, Shirobe M, Minakuchi S, Akishita M, Arai H, Iijima K. Oral frailty five-item checklist to predict adverse health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults: A Kashiwa cohort study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2023 Sep;23(9):651-659.
4. Tanaka T, Takahashi K, Hirano H, Kikutani T, Watanabe Y, Ohara Y, Furuya H, Tsuji T, Akishita M, Iijima K. Oral Frailty as a Risk Factor for Physical Frailty and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Elderly. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018 Nov 10;73(12):1661-1667.
5. Tanaka T, Akishita M, Kojima T, Son BK, Iijima K. Anticholinergic burden quantified using the Japanese risk scale as a predictor of frailty and sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults: A 9-year Kashiwa cohort study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2025 Apr;25(4):520-527.
6. Tanaka T, Akishita M, Kojima T, Son BK, Iijima K. Polypharmacy with potentially inappropriate medications as a risk factor of new onset sarcopenia among community-dwelling Japanese older adults: a 9-year Kashiwa cohort study. BMC Geriatr. 2023 Jun 26;23(1):390.
7. Tanaka T, Yoshizawa Y, Sugaya K, Yoshida M, Bokyung S, Lyu W, Tsushita K, Iijima K. Predictive validity of the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old for functional disability: Using the National Health Insurance Database System. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2023 Feb;23(2):124-130.
8. Tanaka T, Son BK, Lyu W, Iijima K. Impact of social engagement on the development of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults: A Kashiwa cohort study. Geriatr. Gerontol. Int. 2022; 22: 384– 391.
9. Tanaka T, Kawahara T, Aono H, Yamada S, Ishizuka S, Takahashi K, Iijima K. A comparison of sarcopenia prevalence between former Tokyo 1964 Olympic athletes and general community-dwelling older adults. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2021; 12(2):339-349.
10. Tanaka T, Takahashi K, Akishita M, Tsuji T, Iijima K. “Yubi-wakka” (finger-ring) test: A practical self-screening method for sarcopenia and a predictor of disability and mortality among Japanese community-dwelling elderly. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2018; 18(2): 224-232.

1. Chojukagaku Award (recommended by the Japan Geriatrics Society)|Japan Foundation for Aging and Health|2025
2. Mitsui Sumitomo Marine Welfare Foundation Award|Mitsui Sumitomo Marine Welfare Foundation|2025
3. Shigemitsu Academic Award|Lotte Foundation｜2024
4. Top Cited Article 2023–2024|Geriatrics & Gerontology International|2024 (two papers)
5. Top Cited Article 2022–2023|Geriatrics & Gerontology International|2023 (two papers)
6. Outstanding Paper Award|Geriatrics & Gerontology International|2023
7. Outstanding Paper Award|Geriatrics & Gerontology International|2019
8. Outstanding Presentation Award|Japan Society of Geriatric Pharmacy|2018
9. Outstanding Presentation Award|Japan Society of Geriatric Pharmacy|2017
10. Joint Poster Nomination Award|Annual Meeting of the Japan Gerontological Society|2017
11. Outstanding Presentation Award|Annual Meeting of the Japan Geriatrics Society|2017