Neurocognitive disorders, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, are defined by cognitive decline. However, their clinical reality extends far beyond cognitive symptoms. Behavioral and psychological manifestations are highly prevalent, and often more distressing for patients and caregivers than cognitive decline itself. These symptoms accelerate functional deterioration, increase caregiver burden, and contribute to poor quality of life and higher healthcare costs.

This Special Collection seeks to highlight the behavioral, psychological, and social dimensions of neurocognitive disorders, bridging biological mechanisms, clinical management, psychosocial outcomes, and health policy. In particular, it aims to explore how the digital health and policy innovations can make a meaningful impact.

We invite research that explores how digital health, AI, and telemedicine can advance assessment, intervention, and care models, as well as studies that inform policy and service delivery. Submissions may include original research, systematic reviews, methodological papers, and policy analyses from psychiatry, neurology, psychology, geriatrics, and related fields.

Scope

1. Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms – Neuropsychiatric manifestations (e.g., depression, apathy, agitation, aggression, delusions, hallucinations) in dementia and MCI, their mechanisms, clinical correlates, and psychosocial Impact (e.g., on quality of life, caregiver burden, stigma, social participation).

2. Interventions – Pharmacological, psychosocial, lifestyle-based, and digital interventions (e.g., app-based therapies, AI-assisted care) targeting behavioral, psychological, and social needs.

3. Policy and Care Models – Service innovations and policy frameworks, including the integration of digital platforms, AI-supported systems, and telemedicine in dementia and MCI care.

Keywords: dementia, major neurocognitive disorder, mild neurocognitive disorder, mild cognitive impairment, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, Neuropsychiatric manifestations

Mental health is a universal concern impacting individuals at every stage of life, influenced by a complex mix of biological, psychological, and social elements that shift as people age. Each phase from early childhood and adolescence through adulthood to older age presents unique mental health challenges, protective factors, and opportunities for early intervention. Early childhood and adolescence are crucial periods for identifying mental health issues as they emerge and for implementing preventive strategies that can shape outcomes well into later life. During adulthood, individuals commonly encounter stressors related to work, relationships, parenting, and identity development, which can trigger or exacerbate conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorders etc. In later life, older adults face additional challenges like cognitive decline, social isolation, grief, chronic health problems, and loss of independence, all of which can profoundly impact mental wellbeing. Although awareness of the importance of a lifespan perspective in mental health is increasing, much research remains fragmented and focused on specific age groups. This segmentation limits comprehensive understanding of mental health across the entire life course. To bridge this gap, there is a critical need for integrated, longitudinal, and comparative research that tracks mental health trajectories, identifies risk and protective factors, evaluates access to care, and assesses age appropriate interventions. This special issue aims to consolidate interdisciplinary and international insights on mental health through a lifespan lens. It welcomes original research, systematic reviews, theoretical models, and case studies that explore mental health progression, age specific challenges, and intergenerational influences on psychological wellbeing.

Sub themes:

• Mental health issues in childhood and adolescence

• Early life and the role of the social environment

• Adverse childhood experiences and mental health

• Prevention and early intervention in youth mental health

• Mental health challenges in early adulthood

• Psychological wellbeing at the workplace

• Mental health in midlife

• Emotional adjustment during midlife transitions

• Mental and cognitive wellbeing in older adulthood

• Grief, loneliness, and social isolation in later life

• Ageism, stigma, and their impact on mental health

• Psychological support and emotional care at end of life

• Generational differences and its influence on mental health

Keywords: Mental health, lifespan perspective, age specific challenges, preventive strategies, protective factors, early intervention