Masatoshi Takeda
Masatoshi Takeda, MD, PhD
(Japan), Immediate Past President
Masatoshi Takeda has been Chairman Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine since April 1996. He graduated from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire (United States) in 1972, Osaka University Medical School (Japan) with an MD in 1979 and Graduate School of Osaka University with a PhD in 1983.
Professor Takeda started his research career with the work on functional impairment of cytoskeletal proteins in dementia brain. He spent two years as a post doc in University of Florida (USA), and Baylor College of Medicine (USA) during 1985-1987 and then continued neurochemistry and molecular biology of cytoskeletal proteins in Department of Neuropsychiatry, Osaka University Medical School, which has been one of the leading centers of psychogeriatrics in Japan. His team is now working on the mechanism of neurodegeneration in aged and dementia brains. His department also carries on clinical research projects, searching for biological markers for degenerative dementia, functional neuroimaging of dementia, neuropsychology, psychophysiology, psychopathology, and drug development in psychogeriatrics.
The Japanese now enjoy the longest life span in the world (78 years for males and 84 years for females). Japanese society has experienced the world’s fastest transition from an aging society (above 7% elderly population) into an aged society (above 14% elderly in 1995) in 24 years. One out of four Japanese will be older than 65 years in the 21st century. Professor Takeda believes this unique situation requires the Japanese Psychogeriatric Association to produce more scientific data and clinical experience to other international societies. Professor Takeda, as an active member of the Board of Directors of IPA, is keen to stimulate research and personal exchanges between developing countries and Japan.
Professor Takeda has been a member of the Board of Directors of IPA since 1999. He can be contacted at mtakeda@psy.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
