Symposium: "Neo-Gerontology in the Era of Early Dementia Detection: A Dialogue between Psychiatry and Medical Anthropology—Welcoming Professor Margaret Lock"

2018/1/24

Japan, a "super-aged society" at the forefront of developed nations, is said to be approaching an era with eight million people with dementia. In this context, there is a growing movement for the early detection of dementia. While these changes can lead to improved medical care and relief for individuals with dementia and their families, there are also persistent concerns that "natural aging" is being pathologized and that early detection may lead to early despair. In this symposium, we will welcome Professor Margaret Lock, a world-renowned authority in medical anthropology, to discuss the challenges and prospects surrounding the early detection of dementia. We will also have comments from Professor Miyaji, a pioneering researcher in medical anthropology and cultural psychiatry in Japan.

Furthermore, we will hear from Professor Ohara, representing the "Hisayama Study," which has led global dementia epidemiology; Professor Kato, an authority in psychopathology, on the boundaries between aging, depression, and dementia; Professor Hashimoto on the psychological care for people struggling between normalcy and pathology as they experience mild cognitive impairment; and Professor Shigeta, a co-researcher on this project, on the potential of psychotherapy for dementia. We aim to discuss the future direction of neo-gerontology in the era of early dementia detection.