Scientific highlights and perspectives from Early-Career Geriatricians: insights from the 21st EuGMS Congress, Reykjavik 2025.

PURPOSE: To synthesise the principal scientific advances and professional development opportunities presented at the 21st EuGMS Congress, with a focus on findings likely to influence future geriatric practice and research priorities.

METHODS

Members of the EuGMS-Early-Career Geriatricians Initiative (ECGI) attended and reviewed congress sessions, including all plenary lectures, joint symposia with major European and international societies, ECGI-organised sessions, and selected Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings. A narrative, non-systematic synthesis was developed through collaborative discussion, guided by the congress theme of 'New Landscapes in Geriatric Medicine' and informed by on-demand access to recorded sessions.

RESULTS

Key scientific contributions included advances in the management of multimorbidity, hypertension, osteoporosis, nutrition-related disorders, frailty, and sarcopenia. Emerging trial and cohort data emphasised the importance of refined assessment tools and improved risk stratification to support individualised care. Sessions consistently highlighted the value of multidisciplinary models integrating geriatrics with cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, and surgical care. Congress activities also facilitated research capacity-building through peer exchange, SIG engagement, and structured early-career initiatives, supporting methodological skill development and fostering cross-national collaborations.

CONCLUSION

The scientific advances marked a pivotal moment for geriatric medicine in Europe, with biological diagnostics, personalised treatment strategies, and cross-specialty collaboration rapidly reshaping comprehensive care for older people. Translating these advances equitably will require sustained investment in geriatric workforce development and research infrastructure and represents a call to align health policy with the growing complexity of an ageing population.