Prof. Dr. Sivakumar Palanimuthu Thangaraju
Expertise in Geriatric Psychiatry, Dementia, Healthy Ageing, and Community-Based Mental Healthcare for Older Adults.
Prof. Sivakumar Palanimuthu Thangaraju is Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Geriatric Psychiatry Unit in the Department of Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru. A faculty member at NIMHANS since 2006, he has played a pioneering role in advancing geriatric mental health services, education, research, and public health initiatives in India. His work focuses on healthy ageing, geriatric depression, dementia, and community-based mental healthcare for older adults. He has contributed significantly to the development of geriatric psychiatry training programmes, tele-geriatric mental health services, community outreach initiatives, and international collaborations in psychogeriatrics. Prof. Thangaraju has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications and serves in several national and international leadership positions in the field of geriatric mental health.
Past Affiliations:
Additional Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS (2012–2016)
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS (2009–2012)
Faculty Member, Geriatric Psychiatry Services, NIMHANS (since 2006)
Educational Qualification:
M.D. (Psychiatry), National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru (2004)
Publications:
Gross AL, Nichols E, Arce Rentería M, et al. Risk and protective factors for cognitive decline in older adults from a nationally representative sample in India: Results from the LASI-DAD. Alzheimer's Dement. 2026; 22:e71602. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71602
