Alzheimer’s disease and related brain changes linked to chemicals in the body
Official title: The Role of Chemical Exposures in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and its Trajectory
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11609306 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant supports a patient-centered effort to map how environmental exposures and body chemistry relate to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $27,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AG088562-03S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11609306 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for or living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who are willing to provide biological samples and participate in imaging and lifestyle assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not experiencing or at risk for Alzheimer’s or related dementias may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how chemicals in our bodies, along with genes, diet, gut health, and lifestyle, relate to brain changes seen in Alzheimer’s and related dementias. By combining advanced metabolomics, lipidomics, imaging, and genetic data, they aim to build a detailed map of metabolic changes across the disease process. The project includes partnerships with ADNI and ongoing programs to understand the gut-brain axis and exposures that may influence cognitive decline. The findings could inform earlier diagnosis and new approaches to prevention and treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better biomarkers and targets for treating or preventing Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that metabolic changes reflect disease processes and that multi-omics approaches can reveal connections between body chemistry and brain health.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaddurah-Daouk, Rima F — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Kaddurah-Daouk, Rima F
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how everyday exposures affect Alzheimer's disease progression
A national research effort is studying how environmental exposures, gut health, diet, and metabolism relate to Alzheimer's and related dementias to identify new ways to diagnose and treat these conditions.
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How environment, gut health, and metabolism affect Alzheimer’s disease
This grant looks at how environmental exposures, gut microbes, diet, and metabolism influence Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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Understanding how chemical exposures affect Alzheimer's disease progression
This project studies how environmental chemicals and other biological factors influence brain health and the course of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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Understanding how brain hyperexcitability and sex differences affect Alzheimer’s disease
This grant tests whether brain hyperexcitability linked to a genetic risk (APOE4) and sex differences contribute to memory decline in Alzheimer’s disease, using computer simulations and mouse data to guide potential human treatments.
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CNS Exosomes and Adaptive Immunity in Alzheimer’s Disease
This project studies how tiny brain vesicles called exosomes may activate the body's immune system in Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of understanding mechanisms that could lead to new treatments.
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How everyday chemical exposures may affect Alzheimer's disease and its course
Researchers will analyze blood, gut, genetic, and brain imaging data from people with and without Alzheimer's to find chemical and metabolic patterns tied to the disease.
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.