Editorial: Alternative and complementary therapies to promote mental health and wellbeing for older adults, volume II

As the global population ages, the mental health and wellbeing of older adults have become a crucial public health concern (Reynolds et al., 2022). Issues such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline not only diminish individuals’ quality of life but also place significant burdens on healthcare systems. The growing recognition of alternative and complementary therapies as effective approaches to address these challenges was highlighted in our previous editorial (Qi and Jones, 2023). This special issue features six articles exploring various therapies, including acupuncture, calligraphy, square dancing, and virtual reality interventions, offering valuable insights into their effectiveness and underlying mechanisms.