Who’s Who
Meera Pattabiraman
ARDSI - Alzheimer's and Related disorders Society of India, India
Mrs Meera Pattabiraman is Chairperson of the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India and has been associated with the NGO for twenty years. She has varied work experience – counselling, planning and setting up of care facilities for persons with dementia, conducting training programmes and advocating with state and central governments. Her biggest success is the Kerala State Initiative on Dementia, the first state private partnership for dementia care, diagnosis, training and awareness in India. She is one of the authors of the Dementia India Report 2010, a member of the World Dementia Council and board member, ADI.
Narendhar Ramasamy
Executive Director, ARDSI-Alzheimer’s And Related Disorders Society of India, India
Narendhar has been the Executive Director of ARDSI since 2009. He is also a founding member of the India Alliance for Patients’ Group and Healthy India Alliance (a member organization of Global NCD Alliance). He is the Vice President of the Society for All Round Development-SARD. He has been actively engaged in public policy and advocacy for Dementia, the rights of elders and children. He is also part of Governing Board member of NEG-Fire a funding organization working for functional, language and numeracy skills of marginalized children since April 2020.
Priya Thomas
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, India
Dr Priya Thomas is a researcher in the India team. She is interested in how human beings respond to and cope with chronic illness in life. Priya is engaged in developing and rendering psychosocial interventions in neurological disorders. She has special interest and expertise in qualitative research methodology and palliative care.
Saadiya Hurzuk
ARDSI - Alzheimer's and Related disorders Society of India, India
Saadiya Hurzuk is a Psychologist with MSc in Dementia studies from University of Stirling. She has over six years of experience as a dementia professional working in various different setups like hospitals, daycares and memory clinics and is currently working as Centre Manager and Dementia Psychologist at ARDSI Hyderabad Deccan, running a full time Dementia daycare incorporating a holistic approach. She is involved in various studies on topics such as person centred approaches in dementia care, benefits of cognitive stimulating activities in people living with dementia, etc. and actively campaigns for dementia awareness across India.
Suvarna Alladi
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, India
Dr Suvarna Alladi is a Professor of Neurology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore. She graduated with a DM degree in Neurology from NIMHANS Bangalore in 1998, and obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Ageing Research Methods for Medical Scientists from the University of Edinburgh in 2012. In 2006, she was awarded the Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship in Cognitive Neurology at the University of Cambridge.