Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)

• Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s dementia
• Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia
• Biology of aging outcomes in skeletal, muscle, central nervous and cardiovascular systems
• Exercise and nutrition interventions
• Advance care planning and palliative care

• Using drug and non-pharmacological treatments targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia or altering trajectory of neurodegeneration  
• Neuromodulation for enhancing exercise adherence in older adults
• Defining basic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration including the role played by disruption of insulin and glucose regulation, similar to diabetes
• Characterizing events and molecules involved in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders with an emphasis on genetics and inflammation in disease causation and progression
• COVID-19 impact on dementia and caregiving, on physical activity in older adults, and on biopsychosocial factors of loneliness and social isolation in older rural Veterans
• Impact of statins for prevention of dementia
• COVID-19 prophylaxis in CLC residents using nitazoxanide
• Meeting the supportive care needs of chronically and seriously ill Veterans and their caregivers
• Increasing mobility for older adults through technology and technology-based exercise programs
• Evaluating staffing methodology in spinal cord injury units and CLCs

• Interactive education ‘bursts’ focused on engaging staff in geriatric topics with emphasis on cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium and depression
• Monthly webinars and ask-the-expert sessions focused on geriatric care in primary care and CLCs
• Associated Health Trainee program with monthly interdisciplinary geriatric education and training
• Host site for Geriatric Scholars tailored clinical practicum
• Interdisciplinary format of dementia education for medical students
• Offers educational development for rural interdisciplinary team training

• Advance Care Planning-Group Visits, a Diffusion of Excellence Initiative, engages Veterans in advance care planning in partnership with the National Social Work Program Office and the Office of Rural Health
• Geriatric Walking Clinic (partnered with Gerofit for dissemination)
• Tai Chi for Veterans (clinically sustained with Physical Medicine and Rehabilitative Service and expanding to telehealth)
• Virtual Geriatrics (formerly known as GRECC Connect) geriatric education collaborative among GRECCs
• DASH program (collaboration to promote early and progressive patient ambulation during hospitalization)
• Memory clinic (clinically sustained with Mental Health and refining neuropsychology battery to predict function)

Ablation of amyloid precursor protein increases insulin-degrading enzyme levels and activity in brain and peripheral tissues Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422705/

Evaluating the Use of Mobile Health Technology in Older Adults With Heart Failure: Mixed-Methods Study JMIR Aging https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31518257/

An Individualized Low-Intensity Walking Clinic Leads to Improvement in Frailty Characteristics in Older Veterans J Fraility Aging https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31637407/

Serum Albumin at Diagnosis is an Independent Predictor of Early Mortality in Veteran Patients with Esophageal Cancer Nutr Cancer https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30235013/

A guide for using NIH Image J for single slice cross-sectional area and composition analysis of the thigh from computed tomography PLoS One https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30730923/