Geriatric Psychiatrist in Huntsville, AL
Specialized Dementia, Memory Loss & Geriatric Psychiatry Care
If you are looking for a geriatric psychiatrist in Huntsville, Alabama, the Alabama Institute of Mood and Memory (AiMM) provides specialized evaluation and treatment for older adults experiencing memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, depression, anxiety, behavioral changes, and other psychiatric concerns associated with aging.
Geriatric psychiatric care at AiMM is led by Dr. Senthil Rajaram Manoharan (Dr. Raj), a board-certified psychiatrist and geriatric psychiatrist who completed fellowship training in Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn).
AiMM provides comprehensive geriatric psychiatry and dementia care in Huntsville, AL, with an emphasis on accurate diagnosis, thoughtful medication management, cognitive and memory evaluation, treatment of behavioral symptoms, and support for patients and families.
Request a Geriatric Psychiatry or Memory Evaluation
Geriatric Psychiatry in Huntsville, Alabama
Geriatric psychiatry focuses on the unique mental health and cognitive needs of older adults.
Changes in memory, mood, behavior, sleep, judgment, and personality can result from psychiatric illness, dementia, neurological disorders, medications, medical conditions, or a combination of these factors.
Because older adults often have multiple medical conditions and medications, determining the cause of new psychiatric or cognitive symptoms can be complex.
At AiMM, patients receive specialized evaluation from Dr. Raj, a University of Pennsylvania-trained geriatric psychiatrist in Huntsville, Alabama, who is board certified in both Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry.
Treatment is individualized to the patient's cognitive health, psychiatric symptoms, medical history, medications, functioning, and family concerns.
Memory Loss Evaluation in Huntsville, AL
When Is Forgetfulness More Than Normal Aging?
Some changes in memory can occur with normal aging. However, progressive forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty managing daily activities, or changes in judgment and behavior deserve evaluation.
Memory loss does not automatically mean Alzheimer's disease.
Cognitive symptoms may be associated with:
Alzheimer's disease
Mild cognitive impairment
Vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia
Lewy body dementia
Frontotemporal dementia
Parkinson's disease and related conditions
Depression
Anxiety
Sleep disorders
Medication side effects
Medical or metabolic conditions
Delirium
Other neurological or psychiatric disorders
A comprehensive memory evaluation in Huntsville can help identify possible causes and determine whether additional testing or treatment is appropriate.
Comprehensive Dementia & Memory Evaluation
At AiMM, evaluation begins with understanding what has changed, when the symptoms started, and how they are affecting everyday life.
Depending on the patient's needs, a geriatric psychiatric and memory evaluation may include assessment of:
Memory and cognitive changes
Attention and concentration
Language and communication
Judgment and problem-solving
Ability to manage medications and finances
Daily functioning and independence
Depression and anxiety
Sleep disturbances
Hallucinations or paranoia
Personality and behavioral changes
Medical and neurological history
Current medications and potential interactions
Family and caregiver observations
Cognitive screening may be performed when appropriate.
Additional laboratory testing, brain imaging, neuropsychological testing, neurological evaluation, or coordination with the patient's primary-care physician may be recommended depending on the clinical situation.
Dementia Care in Huntsville, Alabama
Specialized Psychiatric Care for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
Dementia affects more than memory.
People with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia may develop changes in mood, behavior, personality, sleep, perception, judgment, and independence.
These symptoms can sometimes become more challenging for families than memory impairment itself.
AiMM provides psychiatric evaluation and management of symptoms that may occur with dementia, including:
Depression
Anxiety
Agitation
Irritability
Aggression
Hallucinations
Delusions and paranoia
Sleep disturbances
Restlessness
Resistance to care
Changes in appetite
Social withdrawal
Behavioral and personality changes
The goal of dementia care is to improve quality of life, comfort, safety, and functioning while carefully considering the risks and benefits of treatment.
Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia
Agitation, hallucinations, paranoia, sleep disruption, or sudden behavioral changes should not automatically lead to another medication.
A specialized geriatric psychiatric evaluation considers whether symptoms may be related to:
Alzheimer's disease or another dementia
Depression or anxiety
Delirium
Pain
Infection or medical illness
Medication side effects
Medication interactions
Sleep problems
Changes in environment
Sensory impairment
Other neurological conditions
When medication is appropriate, older adults often require particularly careful prescribing because they can be more susceptible to sedation, falls, cognitive side effects, and medication interactions.
Depression & Anxiety Treatment for Older Adults
Depression Is Not a Normal Part of Aging
Depression is common in older adults but should not simply be accepted as part of getting older.
Older adults with depression may experience:
Loss of interest
Low motivation
Fatigue
Poor sleep
Appetite changes
Social withdrawal
Difficulty concentrating
Slowed thinking
Memory complaints
Anxiety
Feelings of hopelessness
Depression can sometimes look like memory impairment or worsen existing cognitive symptoms.
A geriatric psychiatrist can evaluate the relationship between mood symptoms, cognition, medical conditions, medications, and neurological disease to develop an individualized treatment plan.
Medication Management for Older Adults
Medication management can become increasingly complicated with age.
Older adults may take medications for heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, pain, sleep, neurological disorders, and other medical conditions. Some medications can contribute to psychiatric or cognitive symptoms.
Potential medication-related problems include:
Confusion
Memory difficulties
Excessive sedation
Dizziness
Falls
Sleep disturbance
Anxiety
Behavioral changes
Drug interactions
At AiMM, medication decisions consider the patient's complete medication list, medical history, cognitive status, previous treatment response, and vulnerability to potential side effects.
The goal is thoughtful treatment—not simply adding another medication.
Geriatric Depression & Treatment-Resistant Depression
Some older adults experience depression that does not adequately improve with conventional antidepressant treatment.
Because AiMM combines geriatric psychiatry with interventional psychiatry, appropriate patients can also be evaluated for advanced depression treatments.
TMS Therapy
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive treatment for depression that uses magnetic stimulation to target areas of the brain involved in mood regulation.
SPRAVATO® Treatment
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved treatment administered under medical supervision for eligible patients with certain forms of depression.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is an established and highly effective treatment that may be considered for severe depression, catatonia, severe mood disorders, and certain other psychiatric conditions.
Dr. Raj's training in geriatric psychiatry and interventional psychiatric treatments allows AiMM to consider both conventional and advanced treatment options while accounting for the particular medical and cognitive needs of older adults.
Support for Families & Dementia Caregivers
Memory loss and dementia affect the entire family.
Families frequently have questions such as:
Is this normal aging or dementia?
Could depression be causing the memory problems?
Why is my parent becoming confused or suspicious?
Could medications be worsening their memory?
How should we respond to agitation or hallucinations?
Is it still safe for my loved one to live independently?
What should we expect as dementia progresses?
Family members and caregivers often provide important information about changes in memory, behavior, personality, and functioning.
When appropriate and consistent with the patient's preferences and privacy requirements, AiMM incorporates caregiver observations into the evaluation and treatment process.
Our goal is to help patients and families preserve dignity, independence, safety, and quality of life for as long as possible.
Why Choose AiMM for Geriatric Psychiatry in Huntsville?
University of Pennsylvania-Trained Geriatric Psychiatrist
Geriatric psychiatric care at AiMM is led by Dr. Senthil Rajaram Manoharan, who completed specialized fellowship training in Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and is board certified in both Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry.
Specialized Dementia & Memory Care
AiMM provides evaluation of memory loss, cognitive changes, dementia-related behavioral symptoms, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and medication-related concerns in older adults.
Physician-Led Care
Patients receive individualized psychiatric assessment and treatment led by a physician with specialized geriatric psychiatry training.
Comprehensive Approach
AiMM considers the interaction between memory, brain health, psychiatric symptoms, medical conditions, medications, everyday functioning, and family observations.
Access to Advanced Depression Treatments
When clinically appropriate, patients can also be evaluated for TMS, SPRAVATO®, and ECT, providing access to advanced psychiatric treatments within the AiMM continuum of care.
Geriatric Psychiatrist Serving Huntsville, Madison & North Alabama
AiMM provides geriatric psychiatry, dementia care, and memory evaluations in Huntsville, Alabama, serving patients and families from:
Huntsville • Madison • Hampton Cove • Athens • Decatur • North Alabama
Eligible patients may also be able to receive certain psychiatric services through telepsychiatry throughout Alabama.
Frequently Asked Questions About Geriatric Psychiatry & Dementia
What does a geriatric psychiatrist treat?
A geriatric psychiatrist specializes in psychiatric and cognitive conditions affecting older adults. These may include depression, anxiety, memory loss, dementia-related behavioral symptoms, sleep problems, medication-related concerns, and psychiatric symptoms associated with neurological disease.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a geriatric psychiatrist?
A geriatric psychiatrist completes additional specialized training focused on the mental health and cognitive disorders of older adults, including the complex relationship between psychiatric illness, dementia, neurological disease, medical conditions, medications, and aging.
When should someone with memory loss see a doctor?
Evaluation should be considered when memory problems are progressive, interfere with everyday functioning, cause repeated mistakes, affect medication or financial management, or are accompanied by confusion, personality changes, impaired judgment, or other concerning symptoms.
Does memory loss always mean Alzheimer's disease?
No. Memory problems can occur with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, medications, medical conditions, neurological disorders, and several forms of dementia. An evaluation can help determine possible causes and appropriate next steps.
Can depression cause memory problems in older adults?
Yes. Depression can impair concentration, attention, motivation, processing speed, and memory. However, persistent or progressive cognitive symptoms should be appropriately evaluated rather than automatically attributed to depression.
Can a geriatric psychiatrist treat behavioral problems associated with dementia?
Yes. Geriatric psychiatrists evaluate and treat psychiatric and behavioral symptoms that can accompany dementia, including agitation, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, sleep disturbance, and other behavioral changes.
Does AiMM provide Alzheimer's and dementia care in Huntsville?
AiMM provides geriatric psychiatric and cognitive evaluation for patients with memory loss and dementia, including management of associated psychiatric and behavioral symptoms. Additional neurological, neuropsychological, laboratory, or imaging evaluation may be recommended when appropriate.
Can family members participate in a memory evaluation?
Yes. Family members and caregivers can often provide valuable information about changes in memory, behavior, personality, and daily functioning. Their participation may be helpful when appropriate and consistent with patient preferences and privacy requirements.
Schedule a Geriatric Psychiatry or Memory Evaluation in Huntsville
If you or a loved one is experiencing memory loss, dementia, cognitive changes, depression, anxiety, behavioral symptoms, or other mental health concerns associated with aging, specialized evaluation can help determine the next steps.