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Brett Burrows, PhD

Assistant Professor Augusta University

  • Augusta GA

Dr. Burrows's current research focuses on interventions to improve outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease.

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Biography

Dr. Brett Burrows's current multidisciplinary research efforts focus on examining innovative, evidence-based, and patient-centered strategies that utilize mixed-methods approaches to implement interventions related to physical activity and psychological well-being, aiming to mitigate disease-related symptoms and age-related losses in physical function and quality of life for patients with chronic kidney disease. He is specifically interested in determining whether improving psychological well-being through novel approaches may lead to increased adherence to healthy behaviors in at-risk aging populations. In addition, Dr. Burrows is currently investigating if potential modifiable factors (e.g., psychological resilience, depressive symptoms, history of falls) are associated with physical resilience trajectories following hospitalization in older adults with chronic disease, to ultimately develop strategies to improve physical function.

Areas of Expertise

Chronic Kidney Disease
Exercise Science
Technology and Aging
Technology and Behavior Change
Physical Function Across the Lifespan
Theories in Health Behavior Change

Accomplishments

Butler-Williams Scholar

2023 National Institute on Aging

Education

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ph.D.

Exercise Science and Kinesiology

2021

East Stroudsburg University

M.S.

Exercise Science and Kinesiology

2010

East Stroudsburg University

B.S.

Exercise Science and Kinesiology

2010

Media Appearances

School of Public Health professor named to new faculty leadership program

Augusta University News  online

2025-02-27

“This program will help me learn more about what it takes to, not only get involved with but lead research projects at a university like Augusta University,” Burrows said. “I’m still working on getting more involved here at AU. I’m currently writing a K-01 grant to hopefully get involved with the research going on around our university. This particular grant would involve the Medical College of Georgia and the Georgia Prevention Institute and would be a big step forward for me.”

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Articles

Development of a physical performance summary score in middle age: Findings from the CARDIA Function study

American Journal of Epidemiology

2025

Few physical performance batteries exist that appropriately evaluate physical limitations in middle-aged adults. We aimed to develop a physical performance summary score that is appropriate for use in epidemiology studies of middle-aged adults using data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Function study, which assessed self-reported function (PROMIS-SF20a) and physical performance measures (gait speed, balance, lower body strength, grip strength, and cardiovascular endurance).

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Association of multimorbidity trajectories from early adulthood through middle age with middle-age physical function

Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences

2025

Chronic conditions can develop early in the adult life course and accumulate at different rates. However, the association between multimorbidity trajectory groups from young adulthood and physical function in midlife has not been well studied.

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Association Between Polypharmacy and Physical Function in Middle-aged Adults: Findings from the CARDIA Function Study

Journal of General Internal Medicine

2025

Polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications) and potentially inappropriate medications (PIM; per Beers criteria) are common in midlife. Polypharmacy and PIM use are associated with poor physical function and adverse health outcomes in older age, but the associations of polypharmacy and PIM use with physical function in middle-age are poorly understood.

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