Editor's Note
VOLUME 41, NO. 4 • December 2024
Fei Sun, IPA Bulletin Editor-in-Chief
December’s issue always carries a sense of anticipation as we prepare to welcome the New Year. I would like to echo our President, Dr. Anne Margriet Pot’s, heartfelt New Year wishes to all members. In her reflections, she highlighted numerous accomplishments of our society this past year, including our continued education and outreach efforts within our existing community and the exciting expansion of the IPA family. Likewise, the IPA Bulletin now features a new column entitled “Messages from IPA Members”, introduced in this issue. This space is dedicated to showcasing submissions from any members, providing an opportunity to share collaboration requests or exciting achievements.
In the IP Journal Article Review section, Ms. Liao (China) reviews the article “Developing the Driving and Dementia Roadmap: A Knowledge-to-Action Process.” This study introduces the Driving and Dementia Roadmap (DDR), a web-based toolkit designed to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers in navigating the challenging transition from driving to non-driving. Ms. Liao acknowledges the strengths of the paper, particularly its innovative approach to support caregivers. However, she also highlights areas for improvement, such as increasing accessibility and integrating more resources to address the emotional distress associated with driving cessation.
In the “Research and Practice” section, we present three articles. Drs. Valzolgher and Fantin (Italy) delve into sarcopenia, its causes, and its consequences. They also explore effective non-pharmacological strategies for prevention and management, emphasizing the critical role of exercise training and adequate nutrition—either independently or in combination. The second article by Dr. Khoury (Lebanon) critically examines the NIA-AA’s revised definition of AD, focusing on its biological construct independent of clinical symptoms. The review contrasts this with the IWG’s cautious approach, which emphasizes the importance of clinical symptoms to avoid overdiagnosis and potential psychological stigma. Dr. Khoury stresses the need for a unified diagnostic criterion to standardize clinical practice and advance research. The last piece from Drs. Yuan and Li (China) introduces CSULS, an innovative surgical procedure aimed at enhancing cerebral glymphatic drainage to clear pathological proteins such as Aβ and tau. This surgery procedure has started to increase in mainland China. Preliminary findings suggest promising cognitive improvements, though further rigorous research is required to confirm its effectiveness and safety.
In the Around the World section, we also have three submissions. Ms. Zhang (China) describes Shanghai’s advocacy efforts for World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21st) using AI-generated content to promote dementia awareness. She provides links to short videos, music, and pictures for readers interested in exploring this innovative initiative. The second piece is from Mr. Leong (Macao) who introduces the first comprehensive dementia care service center in Macao. He shares the center’s use of person-centered approaches in assisting patients with dementia, including the Montessori and Eden Alternative methods. Continuing our series on music and healthy aging started since June and following last issue of music therapy in India, Dr. Zhang (China) shares insights into the history and recent development of music therapy in mainland China, focusing on its application for the aging population.
Beginning with this issue, we introduce a new column titled Messages from IPA Members, which welcomes submissions of up to 250 words. In this inaugural section, Dr. Dilip Jeste provides details about a network he leads on Social Determinants of Health, extending an invitation for member engagement and collaboration."
As always, I encourage you to submit your scholarly work and practice experiences for future issues. Your contributions enrich our community and foster the global exchange of knowledge. I wish you a joyous 2025 filled with new opportunities and continued growth. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or submissions at sunfei@msu.edu.
Fei Sun (Ph.D., MSW, MA)
IPA Bulletin Editor-in-Chief
