Kalpana P. Padala
Associate Professor
faculty
Geriatrics, College of Medicine
Research Areas
Links
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Kalpana P. Padala, Associate Professor in Geriatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has fifteen years of experience conducting treatment trials focused on frail elderly populations. Her research has investigated alternative modalities to promote exercise in older adults, with a particular emphasis on overcoming barriers to physical activity. She has conducted a series of studies examining the feasibility and efficacy of the Nintendo Wii-Fit system for improving gait and balance in various settings, supported by funding from the Alzheimer’s Association and the Department of Veterans Affairs. This work later expanded to explore exercise adherence and methods for its improvement.
Dr. Padala's current research, funded by an RR&D Merit grant, investigates the efficacy and lasting effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on executive function, exercise performance, self-efficacy, and adherence to a structured Wii-Fit program. The overarching goal is to enhance balance components in sedentary older Veterans through engaging, home-based exercise programs. Clinically, she evaluates patients in the multidisciplinary memory clinic at the VA and leads the Geriatric Walking Clinic, which she established in 2013. This clinic has served over 800 Veterans and their caregivers, providing a naturalistic setting for research and intervention.
Dr. Padala's scholarship includes 82 publications and 1,602 citations, with an h-index of 23. She is recognized as a high-impact researcher. Her key collaborators include Prasad R. Padala, C. Heath Gauss, Ashlyn M. Jendro, and Christina G. Crawford.
Research Overview
I have fifteen years of experience in conducting treatment trials in frail elderly. I have focused on alternate modalities to promote exercise in elderly. To overcome various barriers for exercise, I conducted a series of studies investigating the feasibility and efficacy of Nintendo Wii-Fit on gait, and balance in various settings funded by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Later I focused on exercise adherence and ways to improve the same. My current study funded by the RR&D Merit grant is studying the efficacy and lasting effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on executive function, exercise performance, self-efficacy and adherence to an adequately dosed, targeted Wii-Fit. The goal of the project is to improve various components of balance in sedentary older Veterans using engaging exercise programs in their home setting. Clinically, I evaluate patients in the multidisciplinary memory clinic at the VA. I also lead the comprehensive physical activity promotion clinic, The Geriatric Walking Clinic that I started in 2013. Over 800 Veterans and caregivers have participated in the program and the clinic provides us a naturalistic experiment to study the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on exercise adherence and executive function in older Veterans. Anecdotally, I see the impact of these restrictions on my clinic patients on a daily basis. I also see the struggles of older Veterans in transitioning to telehealth.
Metrics
- h-index: 29
- Publications: 158
- Citations: 2,579
Selected Publications
-
Post COVID-19 waitlist reduction in a memory disorder clinic (2026)
-
The Relationship of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, Cognitive Dysfunction and Functional Decline in Older Adults (2025)
-
Escitalopram for agitation in Alzheimer’s dementia: a randomized controlled phase 3 trial (2025)
-
Refining MoCA Interpretation in An Outpatient Clinic Via Logistic Regression and Base Rate Adjustment: A Pilot Study (2025)
-
Escitalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Dementia (2024)
-
Correlation between changes in apathy and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease associated apathy: Analysis of the Apathy in Dementia Methylphenidate Trial 2 (ADMET 2) (2024)
-
Measuring clinically relevant change in apathy symptoms in ADMET and ADMET 2 (2024)
-
Doctor AI? A pilot study examining responses of artificial intelligence to common questions asked by geriatric patients (2024)
-
Adverse effects of methylphenidate for apathy in patients with Alzheimer's disease (ADMET2 trial) (2024)
-
Psychiatrists’ Illustration of Awe in Empathic Listening Assessments: A Pilot Study (2024)
-
Role of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Cognitive Disorders and Late Life Depression (2024)
-
Topiramate Monotherapy for Civilian Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (2023)
-
Effects of methylphenidate on neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence from the ADMET 2 study (2023)
-
The influence of social determinants of health on <scp>post‐discharge</scp> mortality of veterans who received care in a transitional care unit (2023)
-
Heterogeneity of Response to Methylphenidate in Apathetic Patients in the ADMET 2 Trial (2023)
Grants & Funding
- DNA Methylation Markers Associated with Exposure and Adverse Health Outcomes in Veterans Exposed to Airborne Hazards from Open Burn Pits. Department of Defense Principal Investigator
- Long-Term Nicotine Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment NIH Co-Investigator
- COVID Impact on Physical Activity in Older Veterans Department of Veterans Affairs Principal Investigator
- Immersive Virtual Reality for Apathy associated with Cognitive Impairment. VA ORD RRD – Diversity Supplement Co-Investigator
- Neuromodulation for Exercise Adherence in Older Veterans NIH Principal Investigator
- A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase 3 Study to assess the Efficacy and Safety of Ad26COVS1 for the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 mediated COVID-19 in Adults Aged 18 Years and Older Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V. Principal Investigator
- Wii-Fit for balance and gait in elderly Veterans South Central VA Health Care Network Research Grants Principal Investigator
- Wii-Fit for improving activity, gait and balance in Alzheimer’s Dementia Alzheimer's Association Principal Investigator
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
- Effect of Methylphenidate on Apathy in Patients With Alzheimer Disease
- A systematic review of loneliness and social isolation scales used in epidemics and pandemics
- Veterans Affairs Health Care Provider Perceptions of Virtual Reality: Brief Exploratory Survey
- Heterogeneity of Response to Methylphenidate in Apathetic Patients in the ADMET 2 Trial
- Stress of Overseas Long-Distance Care During COVID-19: Potential “CALM”ing Strategies
Showing 5 of 22 shared publications
- Loneliness, social connectedness, and resilience during COVID pandemic among those with and without cognitive impairment
- Loneliness and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic
- Relationship between Social Determinants of Health and Loneliness during COVID-19 Pandemic
- Impact of COVID pandemic on neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver distress in cognitively impaired older adults
- EXPLORING USE OF IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY IN OLDER ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
- Veterans Affairs Health Care Provider Perceptions of Virtual Reality: Brief Exploratory Survey
- Celebrating the Greatest Generation during the pandemic
- The influence of social determinants of health on <scp>post‐discharge</scp> mortality of veterans who received care in a transitional care unit
- Healthcare Provider Perceptions of Virtual Reality: An Exploratory Survey (Preprint)
- Cover
- A systematic review of loneliness and social isolation scales used in epidemics and pandemics
- Stress of Overseas Long-Distance Care During COVID-19: Potential “CALM”ing Strategies
- Loneliness, social connectedness, and resilience during COVID pandemic among those with and without cognitive impairment
- Understanding Associations Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury
- Loneliness and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic
- Veterans Affairs Health Care Provider Perceptions of Virtual Reality: Brief Exploratory Survey
- Mistrust and Alienation: Case Study Highlighting Disparities in Mental Health Care
- Healthcare Provider Perceptions of Virtual Reality: An Exploratory Survey (Preprint)
- EXPLORING USE OF IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY IN OLDER ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
- Untangling the Complex Interactions of Open Burn Pit Exposure and Health Outcomes
- Does Participation In An Exercise Program Increase Physical Activity On Non-Exercise Days?
- Relationship between Social Determinants of Health and Loneliness during COVID-19 Pandemic
- Loneliness, social connectedness, and resilience during COVID pandemic among those with and without cognitive impairment
- Does Participation In An Exercise Program Increase Physical Activity On Non-Exercise Days?
- Loneliness and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic
- Loneliness, social connectedness, and resilience during COVID pandemic among those with and without cognitive impairment
- Does Participation In An Exercise Program Increase Physical Activity On Non-Exercise Days?
- Loneliness and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic
- Does Participation In An Exercise Program Increase Physical Activity On Non-Exercise Days?
- EXPLORING USE OF IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY IN OLDER ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
- IMPACT OF RTMS ON CAREGIVER BURDEN
- Celebrating the Greatest Generation during the pandemic
- The influence of social determinants of health on <scp>post‐discharge</scp> mortality of veterans who received care in a transitional care unit
- Cover
- A systematic review of loneliness and social isolation scales used in epidemics and pandemics
- Loneliness, social connectedness, and resilience during COVID pandemic among those with and without cognitive impairment
- Relationship between Social Determinants of Health and Loneliness during COVID-19 Pandemic
- A systematic review of loneliness and social isolation scales used in epidemics and pandemics
- Loneliness and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic
- Impact of COVID pandemic on neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver distress in cognitively impaired older adults
- Effect of Methylphenidate on Apathy in Patients With Alzheimer Disease
- Heterogeneity of Response to Methylphenidate in Apathetic Patients in the ADMET 2 Trial
- Effect of Methylphenidate on Apathy in Patients With Alzheimer Disease
- Heterogeneity of Response to Methylphenidate in Apathetic Patients in the ADMET 2 Trial
- Effect of Methylphenidate on Apathy in Patients With Alzheimer Disease
- Heterogeneity of Response to Methylphenidate in Apathetic Patients in the ADMET 2 Trial
Similar Researchers
Based on overlapping research topics