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Dr. Robert Briggs
Clinical Senior Lecturer, Medical Gerontology

Biography

Robert Briggs is a Consultant Geriatrician in St James's Hospital with a special interest in Falls & Syncope in older adults. He is clinical lead of the Emergency Department Falls & Syncope Service in St James's Hospital.

He has completed a Phd entitled 'The Association of Blood Pressure and Cerebral perfusion with Depression in Older Adults', utilising novel measures of cerebral blood flow and postural blood pressure analysis and has worked extensively within the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing since 2015.

He was co-PI on the Irish arm of a large international study of disease-modifying therapy in Alzheimer's disease. He has over 30 first or senior author peer-reviewed publications and over 50 in total with a H-index of 14 and his research has been featured in national and international newspapers and radio.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Adam H Dyer, Claire Murphy, Helena Dolphin, Laura Morrison, Robert Briggs, Brian Lawlor, Sean P Kennelly; NILVAD Study Group, Long-term antipsychotic use, orthostatic hypotension and falls in older adults with Alzheimer's disease, European Geriatric Medicine, 2024 Journal Article, 2024 DOI

Ward M, Briggs R, Kenny RA, Social disconnection correlates of a `Wish to Die" among a large community-dwelling cohort of older adults., Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 2024 Journal Article, 2024 DOI

Gallagher E, Kenny RA, Briggs R, Regular dog walking is associated with reduced likelihood of unexplained falls, fear of falling and mobility problems in later life, Age and Ageing, 52(Supplement_3), 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Madden R, Ahmed R, Chambers H, Cloonan J, May E, Briggs R, Loneliness amongst Older Hospital Inpatients - Prevalence and Associated Factors, Irish Medical Journal, 116, (8), 2023, p838 Journal Article, 2023

Hartley, P. and Forsyth, F. and Rowbotham, S. and Briggs, R. and Kenny, R.A. and Romero-Ortuno, R., The use of the World Guidelines for Falls Prevention and Management's risk stratification algorithm in predicting falls in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Age and Ageing, 52, (7), 2023 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

Keane B, McMahon GC, Lavan A, Briggs R, Are so-called `mechanical" falls in later life as benign as we think? Data from TILDA, Age and Ageing, 52(Supplement_3), 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Chapman, L. and Kelly, M. and Piggott, R.S. and Carr, B. and Courtney, G. and McDonagh, R. and O†Connell, B. and Bannan, C. and Cunningham, C. and Briggs, R., An electronic medical record reminder is independently associated with improved opportunistic influenza vaccination rates for older inpatients, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 53, (3), 2023, p169-172 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

Donnell DO, Romero-Ortuno R, Kennelly SP, O'Neill D, Donoghue PO, Lavan A, Cunningham C, McElwaine P, Kenny RA, Briggs R., The 'Bermuda Triangle' of orthostatic hypotension, cognitive impairment and reduced mobility: prospective associations with falls and fractures in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing. , Age and Ageing, 52, (2), 2023, pafad005 Journal Article, 2023 URL DOI

Wang L, Pronk AC, van Poelgeest EP, Briggs R, Claassen JAHR, Jansen S, Klop M, de Lange FJ, Meskers CCGM, Odekerken VJJ, Payne SJ, Trappenburg MC, Thijs RD, Uleman JF, Hoekstra AG, van der Velde N., Applying systems thinking to unravel the mechanisms underlying orthostatic hypotension related fall risk., GeroScience, 45, (4), 2023, p2743-2755 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

Lalor P, Swanton A, Lavan A, Kenny RA, Briggs R, Chronic pain is associated with mobility impairment and falls among community-dwelling older people: data from TILDA, Age and Ageing, 52(Supplement_3), 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

O'Donnell D, Moriarty M, Lavan A, Kenny RA, Briggs R, What is the association between psychotropic medication use and orthostatic hypotension in community-dwelling older people: data from TILDA, Age and Ageing, 52(Supplement_3), 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Slavescu A, Byrne L, Lavan A, Briggs R., Hypotensive unawareness in Parkinson's disease-related autonomic dysfunction., Journal of hypertension, 41, (2), 2023, p362-364 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

Madden R, Briggs R, How prevalent are markers of blood pressure instability on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring of older people with falls, faints & dizziness?, Age and Ageing, 52(Supplement_3), 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Doyle K, Lavan A, Briggs R, Improving the collateral history for older people admitted to hospital: the 6 Cs, Age and Ageing, September 2023, 52(Supplement_3), 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Gallagher E., Mehmood M., Lavan A., Kenny R.A., Briggs R., Psychotropic medication use and future unexplained and injurious falls and fracture amongst community-dwelling older people: data from TILDA, European Geriatric Medicine, 14, (3), 2023, p455 - 463, p455-463 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

O'Donnell D, Moriarty F, Lavan A, Kenny RA, Briggs R, An analysis of the impact of psychotropic medications on gait in the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (TILDA), Age and Ageing, 52(Supplement_3), 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Claffey P, Perez-Denia L, Lavan A, Kenny R.A, Finucane C, Briggs R, Asymptomatic orthostatic hypotension and risk of falls in community-dwelling older people, Age and ageing, 51, (12), 2022 Journal Article, 2022 DOI URL

Briggs R, McDonough A, Ellis G, Bennett K, O'Neill D, Robinson D, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for community-dwelling, high-risk, frail, older people, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5, (5), 2022, pCD012705 Journal Article, 2022

Mealy B, Nevin A, Lavan A, Jariol AL, Roll V, O Connor S,O DonnelL D, Cummiskey AG, McNulty J, O Malley M, Briggs R, `HOME ON TIME": MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTION REDUCES LENGTH OF STAY AND DELAYS IN CARE TRANSFERS ON AN ACUTE GERIATRIC MEDICINE WARD, Age and Ageing, 51(Supplement_3), 2022 Conference Paper, 2022

Breslin, L. and Connolly, E. and Purcell, R. and Lavan, A. and Kenny, R.A. and Briggs, R., What factors are associated with advance care planning in community-dwelling older people? Data from TILDA, European Geriatric Medicine, 13, (1), 2022, p285-289 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Lalor P, Briggs R, RIGHT CARE, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME? WHAT PROPORTION OF ACUTELY-UNWELL OLDER PATIENTS UNDERGO EVIDENCE-BASED COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT?, Age and Ageing, 51(Supplement_3), 2022 Conference Paper, 2022

Kirwan G, O'Leary A, Walsh C, Briggs R, Robinson V, Rodzlan R, Redmond P, Grimes T., Potential Costs and Consequences Associated with Medication Error at Hospital Discharge: An Expert Judgement Study, European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 2022 Journal Article, 2022 DOI URL

Vande_Wouwer E, Zamora Mogollo A, Perez Denia, Kenny RA, Briggs R, Finucane C L,, NON-INVASIVE APPROACH FOR ASSESSING NEUROCARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION IN PATIENTS AT RISK OF FALLS AND SYNCOPE, Physica Medica, 104, 2022, pS82 Journal Article, 2022

Chambers H, Ahmed R, Cloonan J, May E, Madden R, Briggs R, HOW PREVALENT ARE UNDETECTED DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONGST OLDER HOSPITAL INPATIENTS?, Age and Ageing, 51(Supplement_3), 2022 Conference Paper, 2022

Briggs, Robert and Ward, Mark and Kenny, Rose Anne, The â€~Wish to Die†in later life: prevalence, longitudinal course and mortality. Data from TILDA, Age and ageing, 2021 Journal Article, 2021

Howley F, Lavan A, Connolly E, McMahon G, Mehmood M, Briggs R., Trends in emergency department use by older people during the COVID-19 pandemic., European geriatric medicine, 12, (6), 2021, p1159-1167 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Bourke R, Rice CP, McMahon GC, Cunningham C, Kenny RA, Briggs R, Falls and Syncope in Older People in the Emergency Department: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes, Age and Ageing, 48(Supplement_3):iii, 2021 Conference Paper, 2021

Doyle K, Lavan A, Kenny RA, Briggs R., Delayed Blood Pressure Recovery After Standing Independently Predicts Fracture in Community-Dwelling Older People., Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2021 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Robinson A, Ward M, Kenny RA, Briggs R, ANXIETY SYMPTOMS AMONG OLDER PEOPLE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS, Age and Ageing, 51(Supplement_3), 2021 Conference Paper, 2021

Ragab I, Ward M, Moloney D, Kenny RA, Briggs R., 'Wish to Die' is independently associated with Cardiovascular Mortality in Later Life. Data from TILDA., International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2021 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Bailey L, Ward M, DiCosimo A, Baunta S, Cunningham C, Romero-Ortuno R, Kenny RA, Purcell R, Lannon R, McCarroll K, Nee R, Robinson D, Lavan A, Briggs R , Physical and Mental Health of Older People while Cocooning during the COVID-19 Pandemic, QJM, 2021 Journal Article, 2021 TARA - Full Text DOI

Jusmanova K, Rice C, Bourke R, Lavan A, McMahon G, Cunningham C, Kenny RA, Briggs R., Letter to the Editor, Reply re: "Impact of a Specialist Service in the Emergency Department on Admission, Length of Stay and Readmission of Patients Presenting with Falls, Syncope and Dizziness"., QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians, 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Briggs R, Ward M, Kenny RA, The 'Wish to Die' in Later Life: Prevalence, Longitudinal Course and Mortality. Data from TILDA., Age and Ageing, 2020 Journal Article, 2020

Sullivan R, McNicholas T, Claffey P, Kenny RA, Briggs R., Unreported urinary incontinence: population-based prevalence and factors associated with non-reporting of symptoms in community-dwelling people"""50 years., European geriatric medicine, 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Dyer AH, Murphy C, Briggs R, Lawlor B, Kennelly SP, NILVAD Study Group, Antidepressant use and orthostatic hypotension in older adults living with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease., International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2020 Journal Article, 2020

O'Neill D, Briggs R, Holmerova I, Samuelsson O, Gordon AL, Martin FC on behalf of the Special Interest Group in Long-Term Care of the EuGMS, COVID-19 highlights the need for universal adoption of Standards of Medical Care for Physicians in Nursing Homes in Europe, European Geriatric Medicine, 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI URL

Íde O'Shaughnessy, Roman Romero-Ortuno, Lucinda Edge, Aoife Dillon, Sinéad Flynn, Robert Briggs, Darragh Shields, Geraldine McMahon, Arthur Hennessy, Una Kennedy, Paul Staunton, Rosa McNamara, Suzanne Timmons, Frances Horgan, Conal Cunningham, Home FIRsT: interdisciplinary geriatric assessment and disposition outcomes in the Emergency Department, European Journal of Internal Medicine, 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI TARA - Full Text

Ward, M; Turner, N; Briggs, R; O'Halloran, A M; Kenny, R A, Resilience does not mediate the association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and later life depression. Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Journal of Affective Disorders, 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Jusmanova K, Rice C, Bourke R, Lavan A, McMahon CG, Cunningham C, Kenny RA, Briggs R., Impact of a Specialist Service in the Emergency Department on Admission, Length of Stay and Readmission of Patients Presenting with Falls, Syncope and Dizziness., QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians, 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Ward, Mark. May Peter, Briggs Robert, McNicholas Triona, Normand Charles, Kenny Rose Anne, Nolan Anne, Linking death registration and survey data: Procedures and cohort profile for The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, HRB Open Res, 3, (43), 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Briggs, Robert, Donoghue, Orna A., Carey, Daniel, O'Connell, Matthew D. L., Newman, Louise, Kenny, Rose Anne, What Is the Relationship Between Orthostatic Blood Pressure and Spatiotemporal Gait in Later Life?, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Caring for people with dementia in the acute hospital in, Diagnosis and Management in Dementia, Elsevier, 2020, pp665--680 , [Briggs, Robert and Claffey, Paul and Kennelly, Sean P] Book Chapter, 2020

Donoghue OA, Briggs R, Moriarty F, Kenny RA., Association of Antidepressants With Recurrent, Injurious and Unexplained Falls is Not Explained by Reduced Gait Speed., The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 28, (3), 2020, p274-284 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Cognition and Health Aging in, editor(s)Coll, PP , Healthy Aging: A Complete Guide to Clinical Management,, New York, Springer-Verlag New York, 2019, pp169 - 180, [Briggs R, Kennelly S, O'Neill D] Book Chapter, 2019 DOI URL

Dyer AH, Briggs R, Mockler D, Gibney J, Kennelly SP, Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Cognition in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review., Quarterly Journal Medicine, 2019 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Gannon, J., Claffey, P., Laird, E., Newman, L., Kenny, R.A., Briggs, R., The cross"sectional association between diabetes and orthostatic hypotension in community"dwelling older people, Diabetic Medicine, 2019 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Briggs R, Drumm B, Dwyer R, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP, Coughlan T, Collins R, Awareness of atrial fibrillation-effectiveness of a pilot national awareness campaign, Ir J Med Sci, 2019 Journal Article, 2019 URL DOI

Briggs R, McCarroll K, O'Halloran A, Healy M, Kenny RA, Laird E, Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With an Increased Likelihood of Incident Depression in Community-Dwelling Older Adults., Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 20, (5), 2019, p517 - 523 Journal Article, 2019 URL DOI

Briggs R, Carey D, McNicholas T, Claffey P, Nolan H, Kennelly SP, Kenny RA, The association between antidepressant use and orthostatic hypotension in older people: a matched cohort study., Journal of the American Soc Hypertension, 2018 Journal Article, 2018 URL DOI

Briggs R, Tobin K, Kenny RA, Kennelly SP, What is the prevalence of untreated depression and death ideation in older people? Data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging., International Psychogeriatrics, 2018 Journal Article, 2018 URL DOI

Briggs R, Carey D, O'Halloran A, Kenny RA, Kennelly SP, Validation of the 8-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale in a cohort of community-dwelling older people: data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) , European Geriatric Medicine, 9, (1), 2018, p121-126 Journal Article, 2018 URL DOI

Briggs R, Carey D, Claffey P, McNicholas T, Newman L, Nolan H, Kennelly SP, Kenny RA, The association between frontal lobe perfusion and depressive symptoms in later life., Britis Jounal of Psychiatry, 2018, p1 - 7 Journal Article, 2018 DOI URL

Briggs R, Carey D, Kennelly SP, Kenny RA, Longitudinal Association Between Orthostatic Hypotension at 30 Seconds Post-Standing and Late-Life Depression., Hypertension, 2018, p816- Journal Article, 2018 DOI URL TARA - Full Text

Fallon A, Kilbane L, Briggs R, Dyer A, Nabeel S, McElwaine P, Collins DR, Coughlan T, O'Neill D, RyanD, Kennelly SP, Screening for frailty in older emergency department patients: The utility of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe Frailty Instrument (SHARE-FI) , QJM, 2018 Journal Article, 2018 DOI URL

Briggs R, Kennelly SP, Kenny RA. , Does baseline depression increase the risk of unexplained and accidental falls in a cohort of community-dwelling older people? Data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). , Int J Geriatr Psychiatry., 33, (2), 2018, pe205-e211 Journal Article, 2018 DOI

Briggs R, Carey D, Kenny RA, Kennelly SP, What is the Longitudinal Relationship between Gait Abnormalities and Depression in a Cohort of Community-Dwelling Older People? Data From the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) , Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 26 , (1), 2018, p75-86 Journal Article, 2018 DOI

Briggs R, McHale C, Fitzhenry D, O'Neill D, Kennelly S, Dementia, disclosing the diagnosis, QJM, 2018 Journal Article, 2018 URL DOI

Briggs R, Kenny RA, Kennelly SP, Does baseline hypotension predict incident depression in a cohort of community-dwelling older people? Data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). , Age and Ageing, 2017 Journal Article, 2017

Briggs R, McDonough A, Ellis G, Bennett K, O'Neill D, Robinson D, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for community-dwelling, high-risk, frail, older people, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6), 2017, pCD012705 Journal Article, 2017 URL DOI

Briggs R, McHale C, Fitzhenry D, Coughlan T, Collins DR, Ryan DJ, O Neill D, Kennelly SP, Identifying Prodromal Alzheimer"s Disease - Clinical Incorporation of CSF Biomarkers into the Diagnostic Paradigm in a Memory Clinic Setting, Age and Ageing, 46(Suppl_3):iii1-iii, 2017 Conference Paper, 2017

Briggs R, Coughlan T, Doherty J, Collins DR, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP, Investigation and diagnostic formulation in patients admitted with transient loss of consciousness. , Ir Med J, 110, (5), 2017, p563 Journal Article, 2017 URL

Briggs R, Kennelly SP, Lawlor B, Miller AM, USE OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID BIOMARKERS IN SUPPORTING A TIMELY DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, Age and Ageing, 45(suppl 2):ii13.147, 2016 Conference Paper, 2016

Briggs R, Coary R, Collins R, Coughlan T, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP, Acute hospital care: How much activity is attributable to caring for patients with dementia?, QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians, 109, (1), 2016, p41 - 44 Journal Article, 2016 DOI URL

Briggs R, O'Neill D, The informant history: a neglected aspect of clinical education and practice., QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians, 109, (5), 2016, p301-302 Journal Article, 2016 URL DOI

Briggs R, O'Neill D, Chronic stroke disease., British journal of hospital medicine (London, England : 2005), 77, (5), 2016, pC66-9 Journal Article, 2016 URL DOI

Briggs R, Kennelly SP, O'Neill D, Drug treatments in Alzheimer's disease., Clinical medicine (London, England), 16, (3), 2016, p247-53 Journal Article, 2016 URL DOI

Briggs R, O'Shea E, de Siún A, O'Neill D, Gallagher P, Timmons S, Kennelly S, Does admission to a specialist geriatric medicine ward lead to improvements in aspects of acute medical care for older patients with dementia?, International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2016 Journal Article, 2016 DOI URL

Dyer AH, Briggs R, Nabeel S, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP, The Abbreviated Mental Test 4 for cognitive screening of older adults presenting to the Emergency Department., European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine, 2016 Journal Article, 2016 URL DOI

Briggs R, Dyer A, Nabeel S, Collins R, Doherty J, Coughlan T, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP, Dementia in the Acute Hospital: The prevalence and clinical outcomes of acutely unwell patients with dementia., QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians, 2016 Journal Article, 2016 URL DOI

Dyer AH, Nabeel S, Briggs R, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP, Cognitive assessment of older adults at the acute care interface: the informant history., Postgraduate medical journal, 2016 Journal Article, 2016 DOI URL

Briggs R, Kenny R.A, Kennelly S.P, Systematic Review: The Association between Late Life Depression and Hypotension, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 17, (12), 2016, p1076 - 1088 Journal Article, 2016 DOI URL

Briggs R, McDonagh R, Mahon O, Harbison J., In-hospital stroke: characteristics and outcomes., Irish medical journal, 108, (1), 2015, p24-25 Journal Article, 2015 DOI

Grace AR, Briggs R, Kieran RE, Corcoran RM, Romero-Ortuno R, Coughlan TL, O'Neill D, Collins R, Kennelly SP., A comparison of beers and STOPP criteria in assessing potentially inappropriate medications in nursing home residents attending the emergency department., 2014 Journal Article, 2014 DOI URL

The Prevalence of Gait Disorders and Stravinsky Syndrome in An Age-Related Day Hospital, Briggs R, Quinn T, Quinn S, O Neill D, Irish journal of Medical Science, 183:S327-S327, 2014 Conference Paper, 2014

Briggs R, Coughlan T, Collins R, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP, Nursing home residents attending the emergency department: clinical characteristics and outcomes., QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians, 2013 Journal Article, 2013 DOI TARA - Full Text

Briggs R, Robinson S, O'Neill D, Ageism and clinical research, Irish Medical Journal, 105, (9), 2012, p311 - 312 Journal Article, 2012

Robinson S, Briggs R, O'Neill D, Cognitive ageing, geriatrics textbooks and unintentional ageism, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60, (11), 2012, p2183-2185 Journal Article, 2012 DOI

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

Swanton A, Lalor P, Lavan A, Kenny RA, Briggs R, Chronic pain is frequently under-treated among older people in Ireland: data from TILDA, Age and Ageing, 52(Supplement_3), 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Recognition

Representations

TILDA Management Committee 2022 to Current

Consultant Representative St James's Hospital Falls Committee 2020 to Current

Clinical Lead Emergency Department Falls & Syncope Service 2019 to Current

Associate Editor Journal: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2020 - 2022

Royal College of Physicians HST Trainer 2019 to Current

Memberships

Member of the European Geriatric Medicine Society 2018 – Current

Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland 2011 – now