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, KN, McDonald, SR, Jarman, A, Orenduff, M, Sloane, R, Pieper, CF, and Bales, CW. "Markers of Renal Function in Older Adults Completing a Higher Protein Obesity Intervention and One Year Later: Findings from the MEASUR-UP Trial." Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics 37, no. 2 (April 2018): 117-129.

PMID
29924703
Full Text

Bales, CW, and Porter Starr, KN. "Obesity Interventions for Older Adults: Diet as a Determinant of Physical Function." Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) 9, no. 2 (March 2018): 151-159.

PMID
29659687
Full Text

Payne, ME, Porter Starr, KN, Orenduff, M, Mulder, HS, McDonald, SR, Spira, AP, Pieper, CF, and Bales, CW. "Quality of Life and Mental Health in Older Adults with Obesity and Frailty: Associations with a Weight Loss Intervention." The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging 22, no. 10 (January 2018): 1259-1265.

PMID
30498835
Full Text

Bales, CW, Porter Starr, KN, Orenduff, MC, McDonald, SR, Molnar, K, Jarman, AK, Onyenwoke, A, Mulder, H, Payne, ME, and Pieper, CF. "Influence of Protein Intake, Race, and Age on Responses to a Weight-Reduction Intervention in Obese Women." Current Developments in Nutrition 1, no. 5 (May 2017).

PMID
29517074
Full Text

Batchelor-Murphy, MK, McConnell, ES, Amella, EJ, Anderson, RA, Bales, CW, Silva, S, Barnes, A, Beck, C, and Colon-Emeric, CS. "Experimental Comparison of Efficacy for Three Handfeeding Techniques in Dementia." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 65, no. 4 (April 2017): e89-e94.

PMID
28165618
Full Text

Das, SK, Roberts, SB, Bhapkar, MV, Villareal, DT, Fontana, L, Martin, CK, Racette, SB, Fuss, PJ, Kraus, WE, Wong, WW, Saltzman, E, Pieper, CF, Fielding, RA, Schwartz, AV, Ravussin, E, Redman, LM, and CALERIE-2 Study Group, . "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." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 105, no. 4 (April 2017): 913-927.

PMID
28228420
Full Text

Bartlett, DB, Slentz, CA, Connelly, MA, Piner, LW, Willis, LH, Bateman, LA, Granville, EO, Bales, CW, Huffman, KM, and Kraus, WE. "Association of the Composite Inflammatory Biomarker GlycA, with Exercise-Induced Changes in Body Habitus in Men and Women with Prediabetes." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2017 (January 2017): 5608287-null.

PMID
28642810
Full Text

"FUNCTION AND LEAN MASS RESPONSES TO OBESITY INTERVENTION IN WOMEN: EFFECT OF AGE AND PROTEIN INTAKE." The Gerontologist 56, no. Suppl_3 (November 2016): 180-180.

Full Text

Kramer, BJ, Creekmur, B, Howe, JL, Trudeau, S, Douglas, JR, Garner, K, Bales, C, Callaway-Lane, C, and Barczi, S. "Veterans Affairs Geriatric Scholars Program: Enhancing Existing Primary Care Clinician Skills in Caring for Older Veterans." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 64, no. 11 (November 2016): 2343-2348.

PMID
27696341
Full Text

Porter Starr, KN, Pieper, CF, Orenduff, MC, McDonald, SR, McClure, LB, Zhou, R, Payne, ME, and Bales, CW. "Improved Function With Enhanced Protein Intake per Meal: A Pilot Study of Weight Reduction in Frail, Obese Older Adults." The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 71, no. 10 (October 2016): 1369-1375.

PMID
26786203
Full Text

Pages