UCSF Department Of Medicine | Division of Geriatrics

Kala M. Mehta is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and Faculty Affiliate of the Center for Aging in Diverse Communities at UCSF.

Dr. Mehta is dedicated to epidemiologic research in older adults. Her training started with an undergraduate degree in Neurobiology at the University of California, Berkeley, followed by an advanced doctoral training in Clinical Epidemiology and specialization in both Aging and Psychiatric Epidemiology. She is also dedicated to teaching epidemiologic methods to medical students, as is evident by her recent MSTAR award.

Since joining the faculty in September 2003, Dr. Mehta has become a national leader in research of cognitive decline/dementia particularly for diverse race/ethnic groups.

Research Activities

Dementia and cognitive decline are important, prevalent, and debilitating conditions for older adults in the United States. Dr. Mehta studies have shown that the burden of dementia and cognitive decline may be greater for older adults who are of minority race/ethnicity. Minority older adults experience greater cognitive declines. Once they have been diagnosed with dementia, they have lower rates of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor use. At the same time, minority patients with Alzheimer's disease live longer, on average than White patients. For this reason, Dr. Mehta is very committed and passionate about reducing health disparities in cognitive decline/dementia for minority older adults. Dr. Mehta examines traditional risk factors more closely, to determine whether these risk factors can identify ways to reduce health disparities.

Selected Publications

Mehta KM, Fung KZ, Kistler CE, Chang A, Walter LC. Impact of cognitive impairment on screening mammography use in older US women. Am J Pub Health 2010 (Epub January 14).
Mehta, KM, Yaffe K, Perez-Stable E, Stewart A, Barnes D, Kurland BF Miller B. Race/ethnic differences in AD survival in US Alzheimer's Disease Centers. Neurology 70(14):1163-70, 2008.
Mehta KM, Yaffe K, Brenes GA, Newman AB, Shorr RI, Simonsick EM, Ayonayon HN, Rubin SM, Covinsky KE. Anxiety Symptoms and Decline in Physical Function over 5 Years in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study JAGS 55(2):265-70, 2007.
Mehta KM, Yin M, Resendez C, Yaffe K. Ethnic differences in acetylcholinesterase
inhibitor use for Alzheimer disease. Neurology 65(1): 159-62, 2005.
Mehta KM, Yaffe K, Langa K, Sands L, Whooley M, Covinsky KE. Additive Effects of Cognitive Function and Depressive Symptoms on Mortality in Older Community Living Adults. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 58(5):M461-7, 2003.