Bridging Dementia Care in Japan: The Emerging Role of General Medicine Physicians

As global populations age, dementia has become a significant public health challenge that requires sustainable, person-centered, and community-integrated care models. In Japan, the introduction of board-certified general medicine (GM) physicians, who are trained in both outpatient and inpatient care, offers a unique opportunity to enhance dementia care through improved continuity and coordination. This review discusses the evolving role of GM physicians within the Community-Based Integrated Care System (CBICS) in Japan and compares this model with those in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, where care is often divided between family physicians and hospitals. Although these systems frequently experience fragmentation across care settings, Japan’s GM physicians, who practice in both family medicine and hospital general medicine settings, are well-positioned to deliver care throughout the disease trajectory. This review describes how GM physicians collaborate with dementia specialists, Initial-phase Intensive Support Teams, and Community-based Comprehensive Support Centers to support diagnosis, care planning, and community integration. Although dementia diagnoses in Japan remain predominantly led by specialists, GM physicians are increasingly involved in early detection, transitional care, and multidisciplinary coordination. Thus, the CBICS framework provides an ideal platform to position GM physicians as key facilitators of integrated dementia care; however, challenges remain, including variability in training, limited workforce capacity, and systemic fragmentation. Future studies should focus on empirical validation, interregional comparisons, and policy development. Japan’s experience may offer valuable insights for other aging societies seeking to bridge outpatient and inpatient care and improve outcomes for dementia patients.