IPA Bulletin
Editor's Note 

By David G. Folks

Another Year Ends and a New Year Begins at IPA

The story of the Lion King focuses much on wisdom as the final stage of the “circle of life”. Wisdom and the development of sound decision making across the adult life cycle is superbly addressed in this issue of IPA Bulletin.

The article written by Neha Khetrapal from India is indeed thought provoking. It brings to mind Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development, the last of which were generativity versus stagnation followed by integrity versus despair. These are existential topics that many of us find commonly in our work with geriatric patients.

As with the Lion King story, life’s vicissitudes provide an opportunity for learning and coping with psychosocial challenges, including illness. Neha Khetrapal, in the discussion of wisdom, offers two disparate definitions that broaden our view of who is truly wise. Additionally, Neha reviews the literature in a scholarly fashion to consider neurobiological and psychological correlates of wisdom. I won’t recap the conclusion that is offered.

I am struck by how many of my older patients have achieved wisdom status and have much to contribute to the younger generation. As geriatric specialists, we are privileged to have frequent exposure to older and wiser individuals who are in the role of patient or care giver.

In the conclusion of the Lion King, the primary character takes his place in the sky to provide oversight for future generations—-a fitting end to the “circle of life” that passes from one generation to the next. Erikson in his later years, explicitly discussed wisdom as a final stage that transcends integrity (versus despair) and allows an individual to maintain their integrity in the face of deteriorating health, and the potential loss of cognition and functional decline. Indeed, wisdom is a complex concept that is difficult to define. However, most of us know when we are in the presence of wisdom. We are fortunate that quite often in our work with older individuals, we encounter those who are truly “older and wiser”. Of course, we have the opportunity to assist those who have despair and despondency and apathy. These are research topics that are addressed in this issue and past issues of IPA Bulletin.

As we go forward into 2009, I wish everyone the best, and may you be older and wiser as another year ends, and a new one begins. I hope to see many of you at the regional meeting to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in May, and, again at our Congress to be held in September in Montreal, Canada. These will be opportunities to see old friends, meet new friends and expand our knowledge or the field. Who knows? Perhaps we will all be wiser after attending the terrific IPA meetings in 2009. Happy New Year!  

Reprinted from IPA Bulletin, Volume 25, Number 4