About Dilip
Dr. Dilip Jeste is a highly respected geriatric neuropsychiatrist known worldwide for his cutting-edge research into wisdom and other positive traits of the aging brain. He spent 36 years at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where he was a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, and helped build one of the world’s largest geriatric psychiatry divisions. He retired from UCSD in 2022. Dilip’s research is unique because he uses scientific methods (empirical clinical and biological research) to study complex ideas often considered philosophical, such as wisdom, successful aging, and emotional well-being. He is a pioneer of the field of Positive Psychiatry, and his findings challenge the common belief that aging is only about decline, showing that traits like happiness and wisdom often increase with age. His work has been published in over 750 peer-reviewed articles and 14 books, including his highly praised 2020 book, Wiser: The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good. This book shares his two decades of research on the neurobiology of wisdom, specifically identifying key components like compassion and emotional stability. A former President of the American Psychiatric Association (APA)—the first Asian-American to hold the position—Dilip was instrumental in the finalization of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Today, he remains active in global health as the President-Elect of the World Federation for Psychotherapy.
