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Elena Volpi, MD, PhD, FGSA

Director, Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies
Professor of Medicine

Dr. Volpi’s research focuses on discovering the mechanisms that lead to sarcopenia, the involuntary loss of muscle mass and function with aging, and identifying and testing innovative nutritional, exercise, and pharmacological treatments to improve muscle anabolism and functional recovery in older adults.  She also leads clinical trials of interventions to improve recovery from hospitalization in geriatric patients, and has been leading clinical sites of large trials to test new interventions for dementia care, fall prevention, recovery from heart failure, and prevention of disability.

  • Education

    YearDegreeDisciplineInstitution
    1989MDMedicineUniversità degli Studi di Perugia
    Perugia, Italy
    1995PhDApplied Pathophysiology and Specialized in EndocrinologyUniversità degli Studi di Perugia
    Perugia, Italy
    Training
    1989Rotating InternshipPoliclinico Di Perugia
    Perugia, Italy
    1991ResidencyEndocrinologyUniversità degli Studi di Perugia
    Perugia, Italy
    1995FellowshipDiabetes and MetabolismUniversità degli Studi di Perugia
    Perugia, Italy
    1998ResidencyEndocrinologyUniversità degli Studi di Perugia
    Perugia, Italy

  • Research

    Areas of Research

    • Sarcopenia and physical function in older adults
    • Nutritional regulation of muscle growth
    • Regulation of muscle metabolism by exercise and inactivity
    • Recovery from illness in geriatric patients
    • Fall prevention in older adults
    • Dementia care
    • Sex disparities in metabolism
    • Clinical trials in older adults
    • Pragmatic trials in older adults
  • Affiliations
    Gerontological Society of America
    European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism