Our Single Blog Posts

When Memory Loss Isn't Alzheimer's

Posted by Dr. Keval Shukla | Oct 24, 2025

I was recently honored to be featured in The Times of India for managing a rare and challenging case where memory loss in a 69-year-old patient was ultimately traced to a nasal tumour rather than a neurological disorder like Alzheimer's disease.

When the patient first presented, her symptoms closely resembled early dementia – forgetfulness, misplacing objects, and repeating questions. Her family naturally suspected a degenerative brain disorder. However, further MRI scans revealed an unexpected cause – a tumour in the nasal cavity that had extended into the brain, pressing on regions involved in memory and cognition. The diagnosis was a Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the nasal cavity, a rare but aggressive cancer.

While nasal and sinus tumours often present with symptoms such as nasal blockage, bleeding, or facial pain, it is extremely rare for them to cause cognitive or memory disturbances. In this case, the tumour had extended beyond the sinuses, affecting the frontal lobe – the area responsible for higher functions such as memory, judgment, and decision-making. This overlap of ENT and neurological symptoms highlights how interdisciplinary collaboration between neurosurgeons, ENT specialists, and oncologists is crucial for accurate diagnosis and timely management.

The patient underwent a complex, minimally invasive neurosurgical procedure to remove the tumour, followed by coordinated oncological treatment. Post-surgery, her memory and alertness improved, emphasizing the brain's remarkable ability to recover once the underlying cause is addressed. This case underscores how not all memory problems in elderly patients are due to neurodegenerative diseases – some may have a treatable structural cause.

• Unexplained memory loss warrants detailed neuroimaging.
• Frontal lobe compression from non-neurological causes (like nasal tumours) can mimic dementia.
• Early diagnosis through MRI and multidisciplinary care significantly improves outcomes.

"As neurosurgeons, our goal is not just to treat diseases, but to restore quality of life. This case reminds us to always look deeper – because sometimes, what appears neurological might have a completely different origin."

Dr. Keval Shukla is a Consultant Brain & Spine Surgeon at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central. He specializes in minimally invasive brain and spine surgeries, skull base tumours, and neuro-oncology. He has presented research at multiple national and international conferences and is passionate about raising awareness on neurological health.