Several colleagues and affiliates from the Aging Research Centre (ARC) recently participated in the 21st European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Congress, held from 24 to 26 September 2025 at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavík, Iceland. This year's congress, themed "New Landscapes in Geriatric Medicine", brought together experts from across Europe and beyond to address the evolving challenges and innovations in the care of older adults.
ARC researchers made a significant impact, presenting 14 oral contributions and 23 posters that spanned topics such as geroscience, mental health, environmental epidemiology, care science, and ethics. Their work highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of ARC's research and its high relevance to the field of geriatric medicine.
Highlights from ARC at EuGMS 2025
Carta of Florence Against Ageism: Laura Fratiglioni presented this landmark declaration, which calls for the elimination of ageism in healthcare systems. The initiative advocates for a cultural and systemic shift to ensure equitable and respectful care for older people, recognising ageing as a valuable part of life rather than a barrier to quality treatment.
AFFIRMO Project Insights: Davide Liborio Vetrano delivered a lecture on "Multimorbidity and polypharmacy in older people living with atrial fibrillation", sharing ongoing learnings from the multinational AFFIRMO project and emphasising the importance of collaborative research.
Loneliness Among Older Carers: Lena Dahlberg spoke at a joint IAGG symposium, shedding light on the unique burdens faced by older informal carers and the urgent need for targeted support and interventions.
Award-Winning Dementia Research: Anja Mrhar was honoured with the best oral presentation award for her study, "Diet can modify the risk of dementia conferred by increased AD biomarkers in individuals over 60: A 15-Year population-based study". The research demonstrates that healthier dietary patterns may buffer dementia onset in those with Alzheimer's disease pathology, reinforcing the importance of nutritional interventions and personalised dietary recommendations in clinical practice.
"Winning the award confirms that our work is clinically relevant and applicable, which makes me humbled and highly motivated to continue the work, advancing the research and deepening our understanding of the diet-dementia relationship," says Anja Mrhar.
Congress Highlights
Federico Triolo participated in the closing ceremony, summarising the key discussions and findings alongside colleagues from the European Academy for Medicine of Ageing (EAMA).
"I had the pleasure and honour of summarizing the highlights of the conference together with two colleagues from the European Academy for Medicine of Ageing (EAMA) , an institution from which I recently graduated, and which fosters collaboration, research, and leadership in geriatric medicine internationally", says Federico Triolo.
"The contribution of ARC researchers to the 21st EuGMS conference was massive, with topics spanning across geroscience, mental health, environmental epidemiology, care science and ethics, which shows the multidisciplinary nature of our research and the high impact we may have," says Davide Liborio Vetrano.
About the EuGMS Congress
The EuGMS Congress is the leading European forum for geriatric medicine, offering a platform for sharing the latest scientific research, innovative clinical practices, and policy developments. This year's event featured a comprehensive programme designed to foster interactive learning and collaborative exchange, with sessions covering personalised care approaches, integrative health strategies, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in geriatric care. Sustainability was also a key focus, reflected in the use of digital congress applications and environmentally conscious hospitality choices.
ARC at the 21st EuGMS Congress in Reykjavík
