Misdiagnosis of treatable conditions as Alzheimer's delays proper care, neurologist warns

A detailed, case-specific assessment is essential to distinguish Alzheimer's disease from other treatable conditions that can mimic its symptoms, including autoimmune disorders and thyroid inflammation, a behavioural neurologist has emphasized.

Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy, founder and behavioural neurologist and neuropsychiatrist at Buddhi Clinic, made the observation while speaking at The Hindu Wellness Series webinar on Alzheimer's dementia and the promise of brain stimulation, held in association with Buddhi Clinic to mark World Alzheimer's Day. Dr. Krishnamoorthy said a detailed, case-based assessment was important to distinguish Alzheimer's disease from other conditions that can cause cognitive symptoms and may be treatable.

Tailoring interventions to individual patients

Dr. Krishnamoorthy also stressed the need to tailor care to the individual, noting that some medications may offer limited benefits or cause harm in certain patients. He said non-pharmacological interventions also had an important role in dementia care.

The emphasis on precision in diagnosis matters because misidentifying a treatable condition as Alzheimer's can delay appropriate treatment, while a specific diagnosis opens the door to targeted interventions that may reverse or manage cognitive symptoms more effectively than dementia-focused care.

Brain stimulation as part of broader care

Vivek Misra, senior consultant: Neuromodulation and Clinical Neurosciences at Buddhi Clinic, discussed the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation as part of dementia care. The technique uses external stimulation to modulate activity in specific areas of the brain. "It does not require sedation or seizure induction and can be done in an outpatient setting," Mr. Misra said.

He said brain stimulation should not be viewed as a standalone treatment, but as one component of a broader, precision-based approach to dementia care, with interventions tailored to the individual's clinical profile and needs.

The session was moderated by Athira Elssa Johnson, Senior Reporter, The Hindu.

Source: The Hindu