Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. 1. Please switch auto forms mode to off. 2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). 3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.

Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)

Menu
Menu
Quick Links
Veterans Crisis Line Badge
My healthevet badge
 

Little Rock GRECC

Little Rock GRECC

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
2200 Fort Roots Drive, 3J/NLR
Little Rock, Arkansas 72114

Phone 501-257-2523
Fax     501-257-2106

GRECC Director

Dennis H. Sullivan, MD

Associate Director, Research

Kalpana P. Padala, MD, MS, AGSF

Associate Director, Clinical Innovations

Prasad R. Padala, MD, MS, FACHE

Associate Director, Education and Evaluation

Lana M. Brown, PhD, RN

Administrative Officer

VACANT

Affiliations

  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  • Institute on Aging UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging
  • University of Central Arkansas
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock   
research foci heading
  • 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
research heading

Dementia-mechanisms:

  • 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.
  • Dementia-noncognitive symptom management: Using drug and non-pharmacological treatments targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia or altering trajectory of neurodegeneration.
  • Dementia-repurposing FDA approved meds for prevention of dementia: Ezetimibe, Statins.

Toxic exposures and infections as accelerated aging models:

  • Open Burn Pit research study – Understanding the chronic health issues experienced by Veterans exposed to open burn pits by studying the DNA methylation biomarkers.
  • 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.

Caring for multi-morbid older adults and preventing frailty:

  • Neuromodulation for enhancing exercise adherence in older adults.
  • Increasing mobility for older adults through technology and technology-based exercise programs
  • Meeting the supportive care needs of chronically and seriously ill Veterans and their caregivers
  • Evaluating Staffing Methodology and Veteran Outcomes in the Community Living Centers
  • A cooperative study program for reduction in colon cancer mortality with the CONFIRM Study

education heading

  • Retooled GRECC Advanced Fellowship in Geriatrics (AFiG)
  • Aligning Age Friendly Health Systems: 4Ms Framework and Patient Priorities Care across VHA
  • End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) for Veterans
  • Monthly webinars focused on geriatric care in various settings
  • Health Profession Trainee Program with monthly interdisciplinary geriatric education and training
  • Host site for Geriatric Scholars virtual clinical practicum
  • Monthly GRECC Journal Club
  • Quarterly Geriatric Ethics Forum
  • Interdisciplinary format of dementia education for medical students
  • Year 4 medical student clinical rounds

clinical heading

Dementia and Behavioral Problems

  • Memory clinic (clinically sustained with Mental Health and refining neuropsychology battery to predict function)
  • Agitation 360: Web-based intervention for caregivers of Veterans with Dementia

Geriatric E-consults 

  • TeleGeriatrics Consultation/Co-Management for Rural Older Veterans: a program to improve the care delivered to Veterans in their home through video telehealth.
  • Enhancing delivery of Geriatric Care
  • Virtual Geriatrics (formerly known as GRECC Connect): Supports Geriatric E-consult, Virtual Memory Clinic, and the Connections Plan initiatives.

Advance Care Planning

  • ACP-Group Visits, a nationally disseminated project to improve advance care planning.
  • HAVE (Helping Aging Veterans Everywhere)

Workforce

  • National Ask the Expert-Geriatric Psychiatry: A national network of geriatric psychiatrists supporting clinicians in the field treating geriatric mental health issues.

Frailty Prevention

  • Geriatric Walking Clinic (partnered with Gerofit for dissemination)
  • DASH program (collaboration to promote early and progressive patient ambulation during hospitalization)
  • Stay Home Stay Fit: program to enhance fitness in older Veterans.
  • Tai Chi for Health and Recovery in Older Veterans – a multi-site Tai Chi virtual exercise program to help Veterans improve their strength and balance.

publications heading
return to top go
OSZAR »