Geriatrics

Connie Watkins Bales, PhD

Professor in Medicine
Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development
Campus mail 2508 Busse Bldg, Durham, NC 27710
Phone (919) 660-7519
Email address bales001@mc.duke.edu

Research in our laboratory focuses on the role of nutrition (particularly vitamins and minerals) in the prevention and management of chronic diseases in older adults. Previous studies have concerned trace elements and cardiovascular disease, calcium and osteoporosis, and renal synthesis of vitamin D as it relates to bone health. Some of our newest work emphasizes the role of micronutrients as antioxidants and their interaction with the aging process. We are also working on various aspects of energy balance in older adults, ranging from failure to thrive in stroke patients with dysphagia to exercise and nutrition effects in overweight subjects who begin physical training. Thus we have a number of clinical and epidemiological projects on-going, many of which include a strong emphasis on nutrition assessment techniques in middle-aged and elderly subjects.

Education and Training

  • Ph.D., University of Tennessee at Knoxville, 1981

Grants

Publications

Porter Starr, Kathryn N., Melissa Orenduff, Shelley R. McDonald, Hillary Mulder, Richard Sloane, Carl F. Pieper, and Connie W. Bales. “Influence of Weight Reduction and Enhanced Protein Intake on Biomarkers of Inflammation in Older Adults with Obesity..” J Nutr Gerontol Geriatr 38, no. 1 (January 2019): 33–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/21551197.2018.1564200.

PMID
30810500
Full Text

Porter Starr, Kathryn N., Shelley R. McDonald, Aubrey Jarman, Melissa Orenduff, Richard Sloane, Carl F. Pieper, and Connie W. Bales. “Markers of Renal Function in Older Adults Completing a Higher Protein Obesity Intervention and One Year Later: Findings from the MEASUR-UP Trial..” J Nutr Gerontol Geriatr 37, no. 2 (April 2018): 117–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/21551197.2018.1478696.

PMID
29924703
Full Text

Bales, Connie W., and Kathryn N. Porter Starr. “Obesity Interventions for Older Adults: Diet as a Determinant of Physical Function..” Adv Nutr 9, no. 2 (March 1, 2018): 151–59. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmx016.

PMID
29659687
Full Text

Payne, M. E., K. N. Porter Starr, M. Orenduff, H. S. Mulder, S. R. McDonald, A. P. Spira, C. F. Pieper, and C. W. Bales. “Quality of Life and Mental Health in Older Adults with Obesity and Frailty: Associations with a Weight Loss Intervention..” J Nutr Health Aging 22, no. 10 (2018): 1259–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-018-1127-0.

PMID
30498835
Full Text

Bales, Connie W., Kathryn N. Porter Starr, Melissa C. Orenduff, Shelley R. McDonald, Karen Molnar, Aubrey K. Jarman, Ann Onyenwoke, Hillary Mulder, Martha E. Payne, and Carl F. Pieper. “Influence of Protein Intake, Race, and Age on Responses to a Weight-Reduction Intervention in Obese Women..” Curr Dev Nutr 1, no. 5 (May 1, 2017). https://doi.org/10.3945/cdn.117.000703.

PMID
29517074
Full Text

Batchelor-Murphy, Melissa K., Eleanor S. McConnell, Elaine J. Amella, Ruth A. Anderson, Connie W. Bales, Susan Silva, Angel Barnes, Cornelia Beck, and Cathleen S. Colon-Emeric. “Experimental Comparison of Efficacy for Three Handfeeding Techniques in Dementia..” J Am Geriatr Soc 65, no. 4 (April 2017): e89–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14728.

PMID
28165618
Full Text

Das, Sai Krupa, Susan B. Roberts, Manjushri V. Bhapkar, Dennis T. Villareal, Luigi Fontana, Corby K. Martin, Susan B. Racette, et al. “Body-composition changes in the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE)-2 study: a 2-y randomized controlled trial of calorie restriction in nonobese humans..” Am J Clin Nutr 105, no. 4 (April 2017): 913–27. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.116.137232.

PMID
28228420
Full Text

Bartlett, David B., Cris A. Slentz, Margery A. Connelly, Lucy W. Piner, Leslie H. Willis, Lori A. Bateman, Esther O. Granville, Connie W. Bales, Kim M. Huffman, and William E. Kraus. “Association of the Composite Inflammatory Biomarker GlycA, with Exercise-Induced Changes in Body Habitus in Men and Women with Prediabetes..” Oxid Med Cell Longev 2017 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/5608287.

PMID
28642810
Full Text

Kramer, B Josea, Beth Creekmur, Judith L. Howe, Scott Trudeau, Joseph R. Douglas, Kimberly Garner, Connie Bales, Carol Callaway-Lane, and Steven Barczi. “Veterans Affairs Geriatric Scholars Program: Enhancing Existing Primary Care Clinician Skills in Caring for Older Veterans..” J Am Geriatr Soc 64, no. 11 (November 2016): 2343–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14382.

PMID
27696341
Full Text

Pages