Nutrition, Exercise, Physiology and Sarcopenia (NEPS) Research Lab

The Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Laboratory conducts studies aimed at the identification, evaluation, and understanding of nutritional and physical activity interventions that possess anabolic properties in skeletal muscle and have the potential to prevent or reverse impaired motor performance and/or physical dysfunction in older adults.

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HNRCA Launches National Center for Precision Health

The $8.23 million NIH grant will support an innovative personalized health study to predict individual responses to food and dietary patterns

Microbiome may be involved in mechanisms related to muscle strength in older adults

Study identifies differences in gut microbiome composition in physically high-functioning vs low-functioning older adults, successfully transfers some of these effects into mice

Top Docs

What can you do with a Ph.D.? Some pretty amazing things, from running a lab to heading an international hunger-relief program.

These nine rising stars—some with Tufts doctorates, some with roles at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts, some with both—are making their mark as scientists, teachers, and leaders in their fields. And don’t just take our word for it: The National Institutes of Health awarded career-development grants to all four of the HNRCA scientists here, a testament to their promise as nutrition researchers.

Small increases in physical activity reduce immobility, disability risks in older adults

Older adults who add 48 minutes of moderate physical activity per week can lower their chances for major mobility disability

Ready, Set, Go!

Baby boomers will face many barriers to good nutrition as they age. It’s time to get prepared.

Award Winners at Experimental Biology Meeting

Three students in Friedman's Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition graduate program, as well as three HNRCA-affiliated Friedman professors received honors at this year's Experimental Biology meeting.

Stay Active for a Healthy Heart

People in their 70s can likely lower their risk of stroke and heart attack with regular moderate exercise such as walking, according to a Tufts study, which provides some of the first evidence that continuing to exercise as we age really does make a difference.

The cause of nearly a third of all deaths, cardiovascular disease is the number-one killer worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, more than a third of all adults have some form of the disease, including about half of people over age 60.

Sara C. Folta

Sara Folta's research interests focus on public health nutrition, or the utilization of community-based strategies for improving dietary intake, physical activity, and body composition. She has particular expertise in behavioral psychology, communications, and qualitative methods. A major line of Folta's research involves community-based interventions to improve heart health among women. A second area of research includes behavioral strategies to improve health and well-being among older adults, particularly through the development of physical activity interventions.

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Nutrition, Exercise, Physiology and Sarcopenia (NEPS) Research Lab