Are tiny air pollution particles linked to Lewy body dementia?
Determine the role of atmospheric particulate matter pollutants in contributing to Lewy Body Dementia
This project looks at whether small particles in air pollution can cause or worsen Lewy body dementia in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11457059 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research combines large health-record studies, tissue analyses, and laboratory work to link air pollution with Lewy body dementia from a patient perspective. Researchers will analyze U.S. data on long-term particulate matter (PM) exposure and hospital visits for dementia, examine postmortem brain, olfactory, and gut tissues for alpha-synuclein changes, and use lab models to see how specific PM components affect brain cells. The focus is on common urban and roadside PM at levels people encounter in daily life and on identifying which chemical parts of PM are most harmful. The team aims to connect population findings with biological mechanisms so results can help prevent, diagnose, or guide treatments for people at risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults with Lewy body dementia or Parkinson's disease with cognitive decline, and people living in areas with long-term air pollution who can share health records or donate samples.
Not a fit: People without neurodegenerative disease or whose memory problems are unrelated to alpha-synuclein pathology may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify specific air pollutants to reduce or monitor, helping prevent or slow Lewy body dementia and informing public health actions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked air pollution to higher dementia risk, but direct evidence tying specific particulate components to Lewy body dementia and its mechanisms remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mao, Xiaobo — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mao, Xiaobo
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.