Life-Course Brain Health as a Determinant of Late-Life Mental Health: American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Expert Panel Recommendations

Harris A Eyre, Lucy E Stirland, Dilip V Jeste, Charles F Reynolds, Michael Berk, Agustin Ibanez, Walter D Dawson, Brian Lawlor, Iracema Leroi, Kristine Yaffe, Jennifer R Gatchel, Jordan F Karp, Paul Newhouse, Jonathan Rosand, Nicole Letourneau, Eleonore Bayen, Francesca Farina, Laura Booi, Devangere P Devanand, Jacobo MintzerSheri Madigan, Inez Jayapurwala, Stephen T C Wong, Veronica Podence Falcoa, Jeffrey L Cummings, William Reichman, Sarah Lenz Lock, Marc Bennett, Rajiv Ahuja, David C Steffens, Mitchell S V Elkind, Helen Lavretsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

This position statement of the Expert Panel on Brain Health of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) emphasizes the critical role of life course brain health in shaping mental well-being during the later stages of life. Evidence posits that maintaining optimal brain health earlier in life is crucial for preventing and managing brain aging-related disorders such as dementia/cognitive decline, depression, stroke, and anxiety. We advocate for a holistic approach that integrates medical, psychological, and social frameworks with culturally tailored interventions across the lifespan to promote brain health and overall mental well-being in aging adults across all communities. Furthermore, our statement underscores the significance of prevention, early detection, and intervention in identifying cognitive decline, mood changes, and related mental illness. Action should also be taken to understand and address the needs of communities that traditionally have unequal access to preventive health information and services. By implementing culturally relevant and tailored evidence-based practices and advancing research in geriatric psychiatry, behavioral neurology, and geroscience, we can enhance the quality of life for older adults facing the unique challenges of aging. This position statement emphasizes the intrinsic link between brain health and mental health in aging, urging healthcare professionals, policymakers, and a broader society to prioritize comprehensive strategies that safeguard and promote brain health from birth through later years across all communities. The AAGP Expert Panel has the goal of launching further activities in the coming months and years.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1017-1031
Number of pages15
JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume31
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • Humans
  • United States
  • Aged
  • Mental Health
  • Quality of Life
  • Geriatric Psychiatry
  • Life Change Events
  • Brain
  • Brain health
  • well-being
  • late-life
  • psychiatry
  • life-course
  • neurology
  • prevention

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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