Dr Tarun Kuruvilla

Dr Tarun Kuruvilla completed his undergraduate medical training in 1996. After completing house jobs he worked for a year in general medicine before specialising in psychiatry. He did his basic specialist psychiatric training from Birmingham and his higher specialist training in old age and general adult psychiatry from the West Midlands.

He obtained his CCT in 2006 and has been working as consultant in old age psychiatry since. He has been in his current post as substantive consultant in old age psychiatry at Charlton Lane Centre, Cheltenham (2gether NHS Foundation Trust) since March 2008.

Dr Kuruvilla has an interest in research and teaching. He was honorary clinical lecturer in psychiatry at University of Birmingham from 2003 to 2005 and has several peer-reviewed publications.

His clinical interests are in young onset dementia, early diagnosis of dementia and newer treatments for dementia.

The Cotswold & Avon Memory Clinic

Along with the ever ageing population in the UK, the rates of demintia are rapidly increasing. It is thought that 5% of everybody over the age of 65 will develop some form of dementia a rate that increases, in some studies, to 40% over the age of 85.

In recent years there has been numerous advances in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly improve people's quality of life. It can also extend the time they are able to live independently in their own homes. Research suggests that the earlier dementia is detected and treated, the greater is the benefit in terms of response to treatment, compared to when it is diagnosed much later.

The Cotswold and Avon Memory Clinic is a new service being launched to address concerns of individuals who are worried about their memory. It will be run at the Nuffield Hospital, Cheltenham and at the Priory Hospital, Bristol. It is a partnership of four NHS consultant psychiatrists all working in Gloucestershire. Each consultant is a specialist in the diagnosis and management of memory problems. It offers a prompt and responsive assessment process either at the Nuffield Hospital Cheltenham, the Priory Hospital Bristol or at the patient's own home if required.

The diagnostic process consists of an initial assessment which will include a comprehensive history and mental state examination coupled wherever possible by collateral history from a friend or relative. There will also be a standardised neuropsychological assessment at this time.

Following the initial assessment further investigations may be required including blood tests or neuro-imaging (brain scanning) to help the diagnostic process. If a diagnosis of dementia is reached it may be appropriate to consider medication. A number of treatments for dementia are currently restricted or even unavailable under the NHS. At the Cotswold & Avon Memory Clinic, decisions about treatment would be based on clinical need not financial issues, and would be commenced after frank and open discussion with the consultant involved.

Dementia is a complex condition and in some cases, the diagnosis may not be clear after the initial assessment. In these circumstances further investigations or tests may be helpful and could be arranged. Of course, in many cases the diagnosis will not be one of dementia and here, a vital role of the clinic will be to simply give reassurance.

In cases where dementia has been diagnosed we will also be able to signpost patients and their families/carers to the additional support and educational services currently widely available from the NHS and the voluntary sector.

So, if you are concerned about your own memory or that of someone close to you, please see your GP and request early refferal to the Cotswold & Avon Memory Clinic.