Nikhil J Palekar, MD

I have dedicated my career towards improving and developing academic, research and clinical programs in geriatric psychiatry for patients with dementia and depression. I have been a co-investigator for studies funded through the NIH and private organizations related to imaging memory circuits in healthy individuals and those with Alzheimers disease. I have collaborated on NIMH funded clinical studies involving cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in psychiatric disorders and in evaluating efficacy of pharmacotherapy in psychotic depression. I have also collaborated on studies funded by NIGMS looking at the impact of trauma and adaptive functioning in older adults and made significant contributions towards several publications in the field of geriatric psychiatry.As Medical Director of The Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimers Disease (CEAD), I direct a team of dedicated professionals with expertise in the diagnosis and management of Alzheimers disease and dementias. Our center, the only one serving the entire Long Island, NY area collaborates with the departments of neurology, family medicine, internal medicine and emergency medicine at Stony Brook Medicine to provide early diagnosis, treatment and care management services to patients with dementia. We partner with several hospitals in both Nassau and Suffolk County, as well as other state and local agencies such as the Alzheimers Association of Long Island to provide education, training and access to early diagnosis and treatment.Nikhil Palekar, MD, is a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist. He is Director of the Stony Brook Center of Excellence for Alzheimers Disease and Division Director for Geriatric Psychiatry as well as Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Program at Stony Brook University Hospital. Dr. Palekar is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Neurology and Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College.Dr. Palekar joined Stony Brook Medicine from New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center where he was Chief of a specialized program for treatment resistant mood, cognitive and psychotic disorders. He is principal investigator of a center grant for Alzheimers disease supported by NYS Department of Health and co-investigator on multiple research studies funded by National Institutes of Aging, Alzheimers Foundation of American and the Alzheimers Association. He is also a principal investigator for several industry sponsored clinical trials studying cutting edge treatments for Alzheimers disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Dr. Palekar has presented his research at both national and international conferences. His current research focus is on using multimodal imaging (PET, MRI) to study cognitive impairment and mood disorders in the elderly.Dr. Palekar is a gifted educator, mentor and supervisor to medical students, residents and geriatric fellows. In 2016, Dr. Palekar was the recipient of the prestigious Planetree Physician of the Year Award for excellence in patient-centered care.Dr. Palekar received his medical degree at the University of Pune, India. He completed his residency in psychiatry and fellowship in geriatric psychiatry at State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. Following his training, Dr. Palekar joined the Weill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry. He is a member of the Medical Advisory Council for the Alzheimers Association of Long Island, the Alzheimers Association International Society to Advance Alzheimers Research and Treatment and the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry.

His current research focus is on using imaging modalities to study cognitive impairment and mood disorders in the elderly.