Preventive medicine focus for super-aging society at upcoming Kumamoto conference

The 67th Annual Academic Conference of the Japanese Society of Ningen Dock and Preventive Medicine is scheduled to be held at Kumamoto Castle Hall on September 4–5, 2026. Under the theme “Preventive Medicine by Your Side Throughout Life,” the conference aims to address the challenges of preventive medicine in a super-aging society.

Minoru Yoshida, President of the conference and Director of the Japanese Red Cross Society Kumamoto Health Management Center, highlighted two critical pillars for preventive medicine: dementia prevention and oral health maintenance. Research indicates that approximately 45% of dementia risks are identifiable, many of which can be assessed through standard health screenings. Addressing these risks during working years is essential to maintaining the labor force and reducing the caregiving burden on the next generation.

The conference also emphasizes the role of preventive medicine during disasters and for cancer survivors. Following the Kumamoto earthquakes, the importance of screening for conditions like economic class syndrome in evacuation centers has been established. Additionally, the conference seeks to improve long-term health management for individuals who have completed primary cancer treatment.