Conference Program
| Time | Activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 am – 9:00 am | Registration | |
| 9:00 am – 9:20 am |
Opening Remarks
|
|
| 9:20 am – 9:40 am |
Overview and Why Mental Health Matters in Terms of Aging |
|
| Theme #1: Mental Well-being of Elderly in the Post-pandemic Era | ||
| 9:40 am – 10:10 am |
Keynote Presentation |
|
| 10:10 am – 11:00 am | Panel Discussion / Open Discussion / Q&A Session | |
| 11:00 am – 11:20 am | Coffee Break & Poster / Demo Display | |
| Theme #2: Psychological and Societal Interventions for Elderly Well-being | ||
| 11:20 am – 11:50 am | Keynote Presentation By Professor Melody CHAO |
|
| 11:50 am – 12:40 pm |
Panel Discussion / Open Discussion / Q&A Session |
|
| 12:40 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch Break & Poster / Demo Display | |
| Theme #3: Tech for Elderly Well-being | ||
| 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm |
Keynote Presentation |
|
| 2:30 pm – 3:20 pm |
Panel Discussion / Open Discussion / Q&A Session |
|
| 3:20 pm – 3:40 pm | Coffee Break & Poster / Demo Display | |
| Theme #4: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia | ||
| 3:40 pm – 4:10 pm |
Keynote Presentation |
|
| 4:10 pm – 5:00 pm |
Panel Discussion / Open Discussion / Q&A Session |
|
| 5:00 pm – 5:10 pm |
Closing Remarks
|
|
| 5:10 pm – 5:30 pm |
Networking Reception & Poster / Demo Display |
|
Keynote Presentation 1 by Professor Naubahar Sharif
This study examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors on the mental well-being of individuals aged 65 and above in Hong Kong. It focuses on the psychological impacts experienced by the Chinese and South Asian ethnic groups (Indian, Pakistani, and Nepali), which are the two largest communities in the city. Data is collected through scientific sampling surveys and Respondent-Driven Sampling interviews. The primary objective is to investigate variations in psychological impacts among different ethnic groups, with a specific emphasis on the minority and majority populations. The study considers ethnocultural values and socioeconomic statuses within the elderly population. It also explores how mental health literacy and social support can mitigate negative consequences on well-being. The research provides insights into coping strategies for the elderly population, incorporating multicultural perspectives to foster inclusivity in Hong Kong. The findings contribute to the development of targeted interventions that address the mental health needs of diverse communities, promoting improved well-being and equity in the face of present and future challenges.
Keynote Presentation 2 by Professor Melody Chao
As population aging accelerates around the globe, aging discourses have started to shift from longevity to healthy aging. By 2046, at least one in three people in Hong Kong will be an elderly. Although Hong Kong has always been among the top regions in longevity rankings, its population is among the lowest in terms of emotional and mental well-being. The psychological well-being of our aging community needs urgent attention.
This project aims to examine the effectiveness of low-cost scalable psychological interventions, namely, writing interventions in promoting the psychological well-being of elderly. Writing interventions have been shown to be effective mainly in Western populations. They are amongst the most discussed low-cost approaches in promoting psychological health. Guided writing interventions reduce emotional distress and promote positive outcomes by fostering cognitive change through facilitating emotional expression, developing flexibility in the construction of the situations, and bringing in fresh perspectives. This project assesses the effectiveness of different writing interventions and examines whether and how such factors as personal beliefs and emotional expressiveness facilitates or attenuates their effects. In this talk, we will share some preliminary results of the study and discuss their implications to the aging population.
Keynote Presentation 4 by Professor Amy Fu
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major cause of mortality among the elderly, characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides and neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the brain. Recent advancements in anti-amyloid drugs, such as lecanemab, have shown promise in treating early-stage AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Therefore, there is a need for simple, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic methods, such as a blood test, for population-scale screening and monitoring of early AD and MCI.
Accordingly, we conducted the first comprehensive screening of blood protein biomarkers for AD and discovered a panel of blood-based biomarkers associated with various biological pathways related to AD. These AD blood protein biomarkers were then integrated into an assay chip to create a “multi-protein diagnostic test” for AD. This blood-based test was found to accurately detect MCI and early AD in both the populations of Chinese and European descent. Importantly, this blood test can indicate the presence of Aβ pathology in the brains of AD patients.
The development of such a blood test for AD and MCI has significant implications for disease progression monitoring and disease management, offering new possibilities for improved patient care and treatment evaluation. The blood test can facilitate the routine evaluation of Aβ pathological changes in the brain, enabling the assessment of drug efficacy and optimization of therapeutic strategies. Moreover, this assay can simultaneously assess the alteration of multiple AD-associated biological pathways, surpassing the capabilities of existing AD blood biomarkers. Taken together, this blood-based biomarker assay can serve as a powerful tool for early screening, classification, and staging of AD, and can support the evaluation of drug response in clinical settings.
Keynote Presentation 3 by Professor Bert Shi
With an increasing recognition of the importance of aging-in-place, there is an increasing need for the development of technology that supports the elderly as they move through different locations, including the home, community and in health care facilities. In this talk, I will discuss technology development initiatives at HKUST’s Center for Aging Science addressing different needs in these different locations. Relating to the home, I will describe a project to enable convenient and low-cost monitoring and recovery of respiratory function. Relating to the community, I will describe developments in using virtual reality to expand the life-space of older adults, which is correlated with better well-being and quality of life. Finally, relating to health care facilities, I will describe efforts to develop humanoid robots to function as effective members of the health-care team, enabling human team members to focus their attention on their most meaningful and effective tasks.