Editor's Note
VOLUME 42, NO. 3 • September 2025Fei Sun
Fei Sun, IPA Bulletin Editor-in-Chief
September is an exciting time as the annual Congress approaches. In this issue, President Dr. Anne Margriet Pot provides an update on this year’s Congress: we are pleased to hear 345 registrants to date, the ongoing work of two newly launched IPA
task forces (AI and Mentorship), and a robust slate of webinars, debates, and journal clubs in the coming months. More excitingly, preparations are already underway for the 2026 Congress, which will precede next year’s IAGG Congress taking place in the Netherlands. For now, we look forward to connecting with IPA members and colleagues from around the world in Japan, September 25–27.
In this issue, the Research and Practice section features four thought-provoking contributions that highlight the intersection of dementia, geriatric care, climate change, and nutrition in aging.
Dr. Debanjan Banerjee (India) examines suicide risk among people with dementia, underscoring heightened vulnerability in younger-onset and early-stage dementia, and calling for suicide prevention to be integrated into care and policy.
Drs. Kanokporn Pinyopornpanish and Nahathai Wongpakaran (Thailand) explore how mental health assessment can be better integrated into Comprehensive
Geriatric Assessment (CGA). They argue that validated mental health screening tools are essential components of CGA, enabling personalized care plans that respond to the complex needs of older adults while also engaging patients and caregivers in
decision-making.
Drs. Antoine Sader and Rita Khoury (Lebanon) expand on their earlier work by focusing on the mental health consequences of climate change for older adults.
They detail how chronic stressors (such as heat, drought, and air pollution) and acute disasters (such as floods and wildfires) impact older adults’ cognitive function and increase risks of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Drs. Laura Valzolgher and Michael Kob (Italy) emphasize the central role of nutrition in healthy aging. They provide evidence-based recommendations on
protein, micronutrients, hydration, and vitamin supplementation, highlighting the Mediterranean diet as the best-supported model for healthy aging. Their work
reminds us that food is not only sustenance but also a cornerstone of resilience and vitality in later life.
The Around the World section showcases three diverse perspectives. Drs. Carlos Spuch and colleagues (Spain) demonstrate the value of culturally grounded
Galician folk music in reducing anxiety and enhancing well-being among people with dementia. Dr. Yang Jinyu (Japan) introduces a theoretical framework for addressing BPSD through non-pharmacological approaches such as hydration, activity, and social engagement. The framework advances a vision of dementia care that moves beyond the traditional disease–drug model toward independence-supportive and person-centered practices. Dr. Mengxuan Wu (USA) highlight
the critical role of community health workers and promotoras in supporting dementia care for underserved populations in South Texas. Her work highlights the potential of culturally tailored CHW models to reduce disparities in dementia care.
Together, the seven contributions in this issue highlight the many dimensions of geriatric and psychiatric care—from suicide risk in dementia, mental health in geriatric practice, climate change, and nutrition, to theoretical innovations of BPSD and culturally grounded, community-based care,reminding us of the diverse and creative ways different societies are addressing global challenges in aging and mental health. As we observe World Alzheimer’s Month this September, with World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21, I am eager to hear about your research and advocacy efforts in your community related to this important event.
Lastly, if you are attending the Congress in Japan, we wish you safe travels and a wonderful experience. Regardless, we invite you to engage with the IPA community in the manner that works best for you. As always, I look forward to your submissions sharing your research, practice experiences or other innovative work.
Please feel free to reach out to us at IPABulletin@ipa-online.org
Fei Sun (Ph.D., MSW, MA)
IPA Bulletin Editor-in-Chief