Editor's Note
VOLUME 41, NO. 2 • June 2024
Fei Sun, IPA Bulletin Editor-in-Chief
September is an exciting time as the Congress approaches. In this issue, President Dr. Anne Margriet Pot highlighted several recent accomplishments of our society, including the increased impact factor of International Psychogeriatrics. Additionally, the President provides an update on the progress of the upcoming Congress, including a high number of abstracts submitted to the Congress, the upcoming launch of a mentorship program, and special sessions (e.g., AI related topics) to be hosted at the Congress. We eagerly anticipate connecting with numerous IPA members and colleagues from around the world in person this September in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In this issue’s "International Psychogeriatrics Review Column," we feature two articles. Mr. Yi (USA) reviews an article entitled "Mental health and social connection among older lesbian and bisexual women," published in International Psychogeriatrics, emphasizing loneliness and isolation that affect happiness and mental health among this population. Another contribution from Ms. Wu (USA) explores the applicability of sensory integration therapy (SIT) for people with dementia, highlighting its promising potential in addressing psychological and behavioral symptoms of dementia. :
In the "Research and Practice" section, we present three articles. Dr. Lin from National Taiwan University provides a critical review of the latest 2024 criteria for diagnosing and staging Alzheimer’s disease, published by the Alzheimer’s Association Workgroup. Drs. Valzolgher and Kob (Italy) discuss the connection between osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease, noting their shared risk factors, disproportionate impact on women, and benefits of non-pharmacological interventions, while the causal link remains undetermined. The final piece by Drs. Sader and Khoury from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon) compares evidence on the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat depression in older adults, recommending the use of coherent depression measures, representative older population samples, and RCT designs with placebo controls in future research to optimize treatment protocols for geriatric depression.
In the "Around the World" section, we highlight three articles: one from Spain, one from Thailand, and one from India. Dr. Narvaiza Grau and colleagues from Spain introduce the work of the old age liaison psychiatry workshop recognized by the Spanish Psychogeriatric Society. In their multicenter OLD-3 cohort study in Spain, preliminary results show high use of psychotropic medications in older adults and limited access to mental health care. The group aims to expand internationally and invites global colleagues to collaborate on research and education.
Alla Glushich and colleagues (Thailand) introduce "Death Contemplation," a Buddhist meditative practice reflecting on one’s mortality, which is unpredictable and inevitable Research suggests that death contemplation is associated with lower levels of depression and death anxiety, potentially enhancing gratitude and mental well-being among older adults, though further research is needed.
In our June’s issue, Mr. Cohen kicked off a new subsection focusing on music-based interventions for people with dementia. This issue features a contribution from Amulya Rajan (India), who introduces the practice of music-based interventions in India, a country with a long history of music therapy. Rajan shares evidence of the benefits of music in dementia care, including enhanced mood, social interaction, and cognitive stimulation, while also addressing various barriers to its wider use.
Lastly, if you are attending the Congress in September, we wish you safe travels and a wonderful experience. Regardless, we encourage you to actively engage with the IPA community in a way that feels comfortable to you.
As September 21st marks World Alzheimer’s Day, we are eager to hear about your advocacy efforts in your community for this event. As always, I look forward to your submissions sharing your scholarly work and practice experiences. Please feel free to reach out to us at IPABulletin@ipa-online.org.
Fei Sun (Ph.D., MSW, MA)
IPA Bulletin Editor-in-Chief
