Dr. Meenal Thakral

Dr Meenal Thakral is an Associate Consultant in Geriatric Medicine at Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, and an AIIMS-trained geriatrician in Gurugram with 14 years of medical experience.

She completed her MBBS as a Gold Medalist from MMIMSR, Haryana, and her MD Geriatric Medicine from AIIMS, New Delhi (2019), followed by 3+ years of Senior Residency in the Department of Geriatric Medicine at AIIMS.

Dr Thakral specialises in comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), geriatric syndromes (recurrent falls, urinary incontinence, delirium, dementia, malnutrition, sleep disorders), ortho-geriatrics, onco-geriatrics, and frailty assessment.

She is a certified trainer in the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale and an active Member of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics. She consults in English and Hindi.

Specialty Areas and Treatments

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in Gurugram

A whole-person, multi-domain evaluation that goes beyond individual diseases:

• Medical assessment – chronic disease review, drug interactions, polypharmacy
• Functional assessment – ability to perform daily activities (ADLs and IADLs)
• Cognitive assessment – memory, attention, decision-making
• Psychological assessment – mood, depression, anxiety
• Social assessment – home environment, caregiver support, isolation
• Nutritional assessment – elderly malnutrition and weight loss
• Personalised care plan based on CGA findings

Management of Geriatric Syndromes

Common but often unrecognised conditions in older adults that Dr M Thakral specifically treats:

• Recurrent Falls evaluation and prevention
• Urinary Incontinence assessment and treatment
• Forgetfulness, Memory Loss and Dementia workup
• Delirium (acute behavioural changes)
• Elderly Malnutrition and unintentional weight loss
• Sleep Disorders in older adults
• Sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss)
• Polypharmacy review and de-prescribing

Ortho-Geriatrics – Pre and Post Fracture Care

A focused area for elderly patients with hip, spine, and other fragility fractures:

• Pre-operative geriatric assessment before orthopaedic surgery
• Risk stratification for high-risk elderly surgical patients
• Post-operative geriatric care to reduce delirium, infection and immobility
• Osteoporosis evaluation and management
• Fall prevention after fragility fracture
• Rehabilitation planning with physiotherapy

Onco-Geriatrics – Geriatric Care for Elderly Cancer Patients

Cancer outcomes in older adults often depend on more than just the disease — Dr Thakral helps oncologists make individualised treatment decisions:

• Geriatric assessment of oncology patients before chemotherapy or surgery
• Frailty screening to guide cancer treatment intensity
• Toxicity risk prediction
• Supportive care during chemotherapy and radiation
• Coordination with medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists

Frailty Assessment and Management

Frailty is one of Dr Thakral's research and clinical focus areas:

• Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scoring
• Frailty-based ICU decision making
• Pre-surgical frailty risk assessment
• Reversal of frailty through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle
• Sarcopenia evaluation and protein/exercise prescription

Cognitive Health, Dementia and Memory Disorders

Trained in standardised cognitive assessment, Dr Thakral evaluates cognitive complaints holistically:

• Memory assessment in older adults
• Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) evaluation
• Dementia diagnosis (Alzheimer's, vascular, mixed)
• Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale-based assessment
• Behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia
• Caregiver counselling and support
• Neuroplasticity-based interventions for cognitive resilience

Multiple Chronic Disease Management in Older Adults

A balanced, low-toxicity approach to common chronic conditions in seniors:

• Diabetes Mellitus in elderly (avoiding hypoglycaemia)
• Hypertension with age-appropriate BP targets
• COPD and chronic respiratory disease
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
• Chronic Liver Disease (CLD)
• Heart failure in elderly
• Combined disease management with reduced pill burden

Preventive Geriatrics and Healthy Ageing

Dr Thakral strongly advocates that healthy ageing starts early — not at 60:

• Annual senior health checkups
• Vaccination for older adults (flu, pneumonia, shingles)
• Bone health and osteoporosis screening
• Cardiovascular risk assessment
• Lifestyle, exercise, and nutrition counselling
• Cognitive reserve building
• Social engagement and mental wellbeing

ICU and Critical Care for Older Adults

A nuanced, individualised approach combining critical care with geriatric principles:

• Pre-ICU and ICU admission assessment in elderly
• Frailty-based ICU decision making
• End-of-life and goals-of-care discussions
• Avoiding both under-treatment and over-treatment
• Post-ICU rehabilitation for older patients

Credentials and Trust Signals

Dr Meenal Thakral holds qualifications from one of India's most prestigious medical institutions:

• MBBS (Gold Medalist) from Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MMIMSR), Haryana (2012)
• MD Geriatric Medicine from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi (2019)
• Certified Trainer, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale for cognitive assessment of older adults
• Member, Indian Academy of Geriatrics

Awards, Publications, and Academic Contributions

Dr Thakral is academically active with publications, podcasts, and national/international presentations:

• Gold Medalist in MBBS
• Travel Grant for Poster Presentation at the International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research (ICFSR), Miami, Florida
• 4 published research papers in geriatric medicine
• Invited speaker at multiple national and international conferences
• Faculty speaker at Physio Bharat 7 and World Physiotherapy Day Celebration, PGIMS Rohtak, on falls and frailty prevention
• Podcast guest speaker on Neuroplasticity After 60
• Active community advocate for Healthy Ageing, having delivered talks to senior citizens groups and at music gatherings on ageing-related health awareness
• Research interests: frailty, cognitive decline, intensive care, preventive geriatrics, healthcare quality improvement, and patient safety

Patient Experiences

Dr Meenal Thakral has consistently received 5-star ratings from families and elderly patients on HexaHealth, with feedback highlighting her calm and supportive approach, balanced medication management, careful avoidance of over-medication, detailed geriatric checkups, and clear communication in both English and Hindi.

Multiple patients have specifically appreciated her holistic geriatric assessment style and her strong focus on prevention, comfort, and quality of life for older adults.

Current Hospital Affiliations and Past Experience

Dr Meenal Thakral currently serves as Associate Consultant / Attending Physician, Department of Geriatric Medicine at Artemis Hospital, Sector 51, Gurugram, where she works alongside the broader internal medicine and multi-specialty team to deliver dedicated senior citizen care.

Before her current role, Dr Thakral built a strong academic and clinical foundation in geriatric medicine:

• Classified Specialist – Geriatrician at Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram (December 2023 to April 2025)
• Senior Resident, Department of Geriatric Medicine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi (February 2020 to December 2023) – including work at the Memory Clinic
• Junior Resident, Department of Geriatric Medicine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi (July 2016 to July 2019)
• Medical Officer at Jindal Institute of Medical Sciences, Hisar (December 2015 to April 2016)
• Junior Resident at Loknayak Hospital, New Delhi (December 2014 to February 2015)

About Artemis Hospital, Gurugram

Artemis Hospital, Sector 51, Gurugram, is a 525,000 sq. ft. multispecialty tertiary care hospital and the first JCI and NABH accredited super speciality hospital in Gurgaon.

Established in 2007 by the promoters of the Apollo Tyres Group, the hospital has built a strong Geriatric Medicine programme with dedicated senior citizen services.

Its Geriatrics team works closely with cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, oncology, and rehabilitation departments to deliver integrated, age-friendly care for older adults from across India and more than 100 countries.

Book an Appointment with Dr Meenal Thakral

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