Little Rock 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/
Little Rock GRECC
Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System
4700 West 7th Street (3J/NLR)
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Phone 501-257-2503
Fax 501-257-2501
Affiliations
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
GRECC Director
Dennis H. Sullivan, MD
Associate Director, Clinical Research
Kalpana Padala, MD
Associate Director, Health Services Research
Ramona Rhodes, MD
Associate Director, Education and Evaluation
Lana Brown, PhD, RN
Associate Director, Clinical
Prasad Padala, MD
Administrative Officer
Julie M. Smith
Julie.Smith5@va.gov