Air pollution and early memory changes
Air pollution and early signs of dementia
['FUNDING_R01'] · EMORY UNIVERSITY · NIH-11163321
Researchers will follow older adults in the Atlanta area to link long-term air pollution near their homes to early Alzheimer's and blood-vessel-related memory changes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | EMORY UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ATLANTA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11163321 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you joined, your past and current home addresses would be matched to detailed air pollution maps for fine particles (PM2.5) and its components. The team uses four long-term Atlanta-area studies with more than 23,000 participants and looks at repeated memory tests, brain MRI measures, and spinal fluid markers for Alzheimer's and vascular damage. Because the work follows people over time and focuses on those without or with only mild memory problems, it aims to spot early, potentially preventable links between pollution and different causes of dementia. The goal is to distinguish Alzheimer's-related changes from vascular-related changes so risks can be better understood.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults in metro-Atlanta or elsewhere in Georgia who do not have dementia or have only mild memory concerns and can share residential history and health data.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this early-detection and risk-factor research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could identify air pollution as a preventable risk factor and help guide policies or interventions to lower dementia risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has suggested links between air pollution and cognitive decline, but few large long-term studies have separated Alzheimer's from vascular causes or used spinal fluid and brain imaging biomarkers in this way.
Where this research is happening
ATLANTA, UNITED STATES
- EMORY UNIVERSITY — ATLANTA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HUELS, ANKE — EMORY UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: HUELS, ANKE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.