Brain Health for World Trade Center Responders
Cognition and neuropathology in World Trade Center-exposed FDNY, NYPD, and construction worker responders
['FUNDING_U01'] · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · NIH-11074519
This project looks at how brain health changes over time for World Trade Center responders who were exposed to dust and experienced trauma.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11074519 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Many World Trade Center responders were exposed to harmful dust and experienced significant stress, which might affect their brain health as they get older. Our team is exploring if these experiences lead to earlier signs of memory problems or other brain changes, potentially linked to conditions like Alzheimer's disease. We plan to conduct detailed memory and thinking tests, analyze blood samples for specific markers, and use advanced brain scans (PET/MRI) to understand these changes better. This will help us see if there's a connection between their past exposures and current brain function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants for this project are World Trade Center responders, particularly those from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), who are interested in understanding their cognitive health.
Not a fit: Patients who were not World Trade Center responders or do not have similar exposure histories would likely not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help us understand why some World Trade Center responders experience cognitive changes, potentially leading to earlier detection and better support for their brain health.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific link between WTC exposure and neurodegeneration is still being explored, similar brain imaging and biomarker techniques have been successful in understanding other neurodegenerative conditions.
Where this research is happening
STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES
- STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK — STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CLOUSTON, SEAN — STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- Study coordinator: CLOUSTON, SEAN
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.