Editor's Note
VOLUME 42, NO. 1 • March 2025
Fei Sun, IPA Bulletin Editor-in-Chief
March marks the release of our first issue of 2025. As editor, I would like to extend a belated yet heartfelt New Year’s greeting to all IPA members. This issue highlights key accomplishments of our society, as detailed in the message from IPA President, Dr. Anne Margriet Pot. I echo her encouragement of you to participate in this year’s IPA International Congress, themed Fostering Inclusive and Supportive Societies Worldwide to Enhance the Mental Health of Older Adults. The Congress will take place in Kanazawa, Japan, from September 25–27, 2025—an excellent opportunity for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
In this issue’s Research and Practice section, we present four insightful contributions on treatments and support strategies for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. Drs. Sader and Khoury (Lebanon) explore Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP-1A) as a potential treatment and prevention strategy for AD. While cognitive and biomarker improvements have been observed in preclinical trials and in certain patient populations (e.g., those with diabetes or metabolic syndrome), benefits have yet to be demonstrated in older adults at high risk for AD or in those without type 2 diabetes. Dr. Johnson (U.S.A.) introduces the concept of "time travel" as a framework for understanding the experiences of individuals with dementia. This approach reinforces the value of validation therapy, which helps care partners build supportive relationships by adapting to the individual’s perception of time rather than imposing external timelines. Drs. Chen and Li (China) share the SHAPE model, developed at the Shanghai Mental Health Center, for early detection and management of cognitive impairment. This preventive approach integrates stratified screening, specialized diagnosis, and early intervention to enhance cognitive care. Lastly, Dr. Wu (U.S.A.) examines primary progressive aphasia in dementia and discusses existing multimodal interventions. She also highlights the potential of eye-tracking technology combined with neuroimaging as a novel intervention strategy.
In the Around the World section, we feature two submissions: Dr. Kang (China) discusses the second version of the World Health Organization’s Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) initiative and its implementation across different regions in mainland China. Notably, ICOPE has been integrated into China’s long-term care insurance programs, currently active in 49 cities. Mr. Yang (Japan) explores the evolution of Japan’s social welfare system for older adults, with a focus on long-term care policies introduced in 1997. Key themes of the long-term care policy include self-reliance, a prevention-based approach, and the integration of medical, social, and personal care services.
In the Messages from IPA Members section, Dr. Garrido and colleagues (Spain) introduce the work of the Sociedade Galega de Xerontoloxía e Xeriatría (SGXX), the Galician Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics. They also share details about their upcoming conference on May 30–31 in Ourense, inviting interested members to connect.
As always, I encourage you to contribute your research, clinical updates, policy reflections, and professional insights, or collaboration and networking requests for future issues. Your submissions help enrich our global community and foster meaningful knowledge exchange. Wishing you a 2025 filled with new opportunities for growth and collaboration. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or submissions to me at sunfei@msu.edu and other editors of IPA Bulletin.
Fei Sun (Ph.D., MSW, MA)
IPA Bulletin Editor-in-Chief
