Miguel Angel Pappolla MD PhD (He/Him)

Headache, Interventional Neurology, Pain Medicine

Professor of Neurology, UTMB. Medical Director, St. Michael's Neurology and Pain Medicine

2646 S Loop West Ste 106Houston, TX 77054
Phone+1 713-661-0300
Fax+1 281-822-0480

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Summary

Mike Pappolla is a neurologist in Houston specializing in traumatic brain injury (concussion) and pain management. He holds a hybrid private practice in Houston and he is a full professor of Neurology at UTMB. Dr. Pappolla's training included 3 medical residencies and 2 fellowships, as well as a PhD in Neuroscience. He holds active board certifications in 5 areas of medicine (Neurology, Pain Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Anatomic Pathology, Neuropathology). Dr. Pappolla published over 115 peer-reviewed papers in neuroscience, and some of his scientific research is cited in thousands of textbooks worldwide, with many papers reaching from 300 to over 1000 citations in peer-reviewed journals (search for Pappolla M in Books.Google.com to see how many books name Dr. Pappolla's research). He served as a consultant for the National Institutes of Health in the United States for over 25 years and as a faculty member at several highly prestigious medical schools in the United States, where he taught Neurosciences to medical students.

Miguel A. Pappolla, MD, PhD - Google Search

Pappolla, Miguel A., MD, PhD. Mailing Address: 2646 S Loop W, SUite 106. Houston, TX 77054.

Clinical Expertise

Spinal stenosis, Concussion, Alzheimer's disease, Traumatic brain injury, Neurology, Pain medicine, Pain management, Interventional pain management, Neuropathology, Vertebroplasty, microdisketomy, spinal cord stimulation, radiofrenquecy ablations, epidural injections, stem cell transplantation, Low back pain

Education & Training

University of Mississippi Medical CenterFellowship, Pain Medicine, 2005 - 2006
University of Catalunya, Barcelona, SpainPhD, Human Aging, Cum Laude, 2002
USA HealthResidency, Neurology, 1996 - 2000
Cleveland Clinic FoundationFellowship, Neuropathology, 1984 - 1985
Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterFellowship, Neuropathology, 1983 - 1984

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Certifications & Licensure

TX State Medical License 1994 - 2028
FL State Medical License 1993 - 2027
OH State Medical License 1982 - 2026
MS State Medical License 2001 - 2018
SC State Medical License 2007 - 2011
AL State Medical License 1997 - 2004
NY State Medical License 1985 - 1994
American Board of Pathology Anatomic Pathology
American Board of Pathology Clinical Pathology
American Board of Pathology Neuropathology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Pain Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Commendation Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, 2006
Josephine T. Morse Endowed Professorship in Neuropathology Medical University of South Carolina, 2006
Teaching Award, Department of Neurology. University of South Alabama, Given by graduating Neurology residents, 2001

Clinical Trials

IV vs. IA tPA (Activase) in Acute Ischemic Stroke With CTA Evidence of Major Vessel Occlusion
COMPLETED
NA

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Cervical lymph node biomarkers in neurodegeneration.
Miguel A Pappolla, Kumar Sambamurti
Brain. 2026-07-06
Evaluating Cognition Across Aging and Traumatic Brain Injury: Integrating Neurological and Neuropsychological Approaches.
Miguel A Pappolla, Sean L Pappolla, Remi Nader, Mohammad K Hamza, Felix Fang
Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2026-05-15
Efficacy of Nerve Blocks for Posttraumatic Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias: A Case Series.
Rowaid Ahmad, Christopher File, Juan Camilo Forero, Remi Nader, Xiang Fang
Pain Medicine Case Reports. 2026-04-01

Journal Articles

Targets for AD treatment: conflicting messages from Gamma-secretase inhibitors.
Sambamurti K, Greig NH, Utsuki T, Barnwell EL, Sharma E, Mazell C, Bhat NR, Kindy MS, Lahiri DK, Pappolla MA, J Neurochem, 5/1/2011
Amphiphilic amide nitrones: a new class of protective agents acting as modifiers of mitochondrial metabolism.
J Med Chem, 7/1/2010
Differential Accumulation of Secreted AbetaPP Metabolites in Ocular Fluids.
Prakasam A, Muthuswamy A, Ablonczy Z, Greig NH, Fauq A, Rao KJ, Pappolla MA, Sambamurti K, J Alzheimers Dis, 4/22/2010

Books/Book Chapters

Neuropathologia Diagnostico Y Clinica
Chapter: Molecular Biology and Neuropathology of Alzheimer's Disease.
Pappolla MAEditors: F. Cruz-Sanchez.Edimsa2000
Free Radicals in Brain Pathophysiology.
Chapter: The role of Transgenic models for the Study of Oxidative Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s Disease.
M. A. Pappolla, Y-J Chyan, G. Perry, M.A. SmithEditors: Poli G and Cadenas E..2000
Alzheimer’s Disease: Biology, Diagnosis and Therapeutics
Chapter: Dual Anti-amyloidogenic and Anti-oxidant Properties of Melatonin. A New Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease?
Page 661 - 669Pappolla MA, Bozner P, Soto C, Shao H, Brewer G. Robakis NK, Zagorski M, Frangione B, Ghiso JEditors: K. Iqbal, B. Winblad, and H.M. Wisniewski.John Wiley & Sons Ltd.1999

Abstracts/Posters

Cognitive Impairment in Familial Heterozygous Hypercholesterolemia.
Pappolla MA, Sambamurti K, Pacheco J, et al, World Congress of Alzheimer’s Congress, Chicago, IL., 7/1/2008
Changes in the Alzheimer’s Amyloid Protein Precursor Metabolism During Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration.
Prakasam A, Pappolla MA, Rohrer B, Sambamurti K, Annual ARVO meeting, FT. Lauderdale, FL., 1/1/2008
Alzheimer's Amyloid Protein Precursor and Neurotrophins in Age Related Retinal Degeneration.
Sambamurti K, Pappolla MA, Granholm A-C, A. Prakasam A, Annual ARVO meeting, FT. Lauderdale, FL., 1/1/2008

Lectures

"Interventional Pain Modalities for Spine Care. A Short Review". (Invited Speaker)
Charleston Spine Symposium. - 8/24/2007
Cholesterol metabolism, hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress: Novel therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease. (Invited Symposium Speaker)
9th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, Philadelphia, PA. - 7/1/2004
Cholesterol metabolism: A risk factor and potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease. (Invited Symposium Speaker)
8th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden. - 7/20/2002

Other

Cholesterol, Oxidative Stress and Alzheimer’s disease. Expanding the Horizons of Pathogenesis. (Review)
Pappolla MA, Smith MA, Bryant-Thomas T, Bazan N, Petanceska S, Perry G, Thal LJ, Sano M, Refolo LM, Free Radic Biol Med
1/1/2002
Inhibition of Alzheimer’s Beta Amyloid Fibril Formation.
Pappolla M, Bozner P, Zagorski M, Shao H, Frangione B, Ghiso J, Emerging Therapeutic Targets.
1/1/1997
Oxygen Free Radicals and Amyloidosis in Alzheimer's Disease: Is There a Connection? Editorial.
Robakis NK, Pappolla MA, Neurobiol Aging
1/1/1994

Press Mentions

Breakthrough Could Help Relieve Fibromyalgia PainJune 19th, 2019
Scientists Spot Unexpected Player in FibromyalgiaMay 16th, 2019
Scientists Spot Unexpected Player in FibromyalgiaMay 16th, 2019

Grant Support

Role of Neuroprotective Indoles in Delaying the Onset of Cognitive DeclineUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON2021–2025
Cholesterol And AmyloidogenesisNational Institute On Aging2004–2005
Melatonin- A New Anti-Amyloidogenic &Antioxidant AgentNational Institute On Aging2003
Cholesterol And AmyloidogenesisNational Institute On Aging2003
Melatonin- A New Anti-Amyloidogenic &Antioxidant AgentNational Institute On Aging2000–2003