The Dominican Society of Geriatrics held its first symposium dedicated to psychogeriatrics during its 12th Congress in Santo Domingo, marking a new step in integrating mental health into elderly care in the Dominican Republic.
The module was coordinated by Dr. Ivan Viera Garcia, a psychiatrist and psychogeriatrician who serves as president of the Psychogeriatrics Chapter, with the aim of promoting an interdisciplinary look at the emotional, cognitive and behavioral challenges that accompany aging.
The event brought together prominent professionals working in aging, mental health and neuroscience. Organizers said the symposium represented the first of its kind held within the Dominican Society of Geriatrics, setting a precedent for integrating mental health into geriatric care in the country.
Specialists in dementia and neuromodulation
The module featured Dr. Daisy Acosta, known nationally and internationally for her work on dementia and mental health in older adults, along with Dr. Rose Nina, a pioneer in the development and application of cerebral neuromodulation in the Dominican Republic.
Neuromodulation is a medical technique that uses electrical or other stimulation to alter nerve activity, and it has been increasingly explored as a treatment approach for certain neurological and psychiatric conditions in older patients.
Integration and training
Dr. Jhonatan Abreu, president of the Dominican Society of Geriatrics, also took part in the session. His presence, organizers said, reaffirmed the importance of continuing to integrate mental health and psychogeriatrics into the overall approach to caring for older adults.
Academic moderation was led by neuropsychologist Dalia Aguilo, who guided the various presentations and the scientific exchange between speakers and attendees.
During his remarks, Viera Garcia stressed the need to keep creating spaces for training, awareness and integration among the different disciplines, particularly given the progressive aging of the Dominican population and the new challenges this poses for health systems.
Topics covered
The presentations addressed cognition, delirium, emotional health, neuroplasticity and current therapeutic alternatives. Speakers emphasized that care for older adults must take into account not only their physical condition but also their mental health, autonomy, functionality and quality of life.
The Dominican Society of Geriatrics is a professional body focused on the study and treatment of health issues affecting older adults in the Dominican Republic. Organizers described the inclusion of this first Psychogeriatrics symposium within the 12th Congress as an important step toward consolidating the discipline in the country and toward a more comprehensive and preventive vision of aging.
