[RUS][ENG]

Series 16

Psychology. Education.

Issue 1, 2014

CONTENTS

Section СHRONICLE
Codes UDC 159.922 Page 57-61
Title 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics (23-27 June 2013, Seoul)
Author 1 Strizhitskaya Olga Yu. St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
Candidate of Psychology
e-mail: o.strizhitskaya@psy.spbu.ru
Summary The article is dedicated to the 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics that took place on 23-27, June in Seoul, South Korea. The main topic of the conference was maintaining of activity and aging with dignity. Particularly, during the opening ceremony serious contradictions between the image of an aging person and his needs and reality were underlined. A wide range of presentations and talks was dedicated to gerotranscendence theory, developed by L. Tornstam. Questions concerning factors determining the process of gerotranscendence were discussed. Among all issues of education the role of aging was discussed. Though all participants agreed that education has a positive impact on the process of aging, still discussion among English, German and other scientists revealed that education needs to be considered more specifically. During the congress, many studies were dedicated to centerians and longevity studies. Investigations in the cognitive and neuropsychological fi eld demonstrated that role of genetic factors in cognitive functioning in aging remains very high. It was mentioned that person has a brain reserve - brain capability to cope with diseases, recover, that is brain reserve that affects speed and quality of aging. Also, scientists defined cognitive reserve - resilience to first decreases and damages. Education was named as one of the factors contributing to this reserve. Wide discussion was caused by methodological problems. Crucial importance was given to need and relevance of huge and/or longitudinal studies. Special attention deserves an exhibition hall and technologies, presented at the congress, that included equipment and innovations in different gerontological fields.
Keywords psychology of aging, gerontology, international meetings.