Chemical exposures and Alzheimer's progression
The Role of Chemical Exposures in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and its Trajectory
['FUNDING_U01'] · DUKE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11170671
This project looks at how everyday chemical exposures, the gut microbiome, genes, and blood metabolites relate to Alzheimer's disease in people with or at risk for dementia.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DUKE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DURHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11170671 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers may collect blood and stool samples, genetic information, and brain scans or use records from existing studies to look for metabolic and lipid changes linked to Alzheimer's. The project combines data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, ten Alzheimer's research centers, and diet/lifestyle trials (POINTER, MIND, BEAT-AD) to cover a range of people and interventions. Teams will run advanced metabolomics and lipidomics tests to build a molecular atlas showing how the exposome, diet, and the gut-brain axis affect metabolic changes tied to cognition. Over several years they will track changes across the disease spectrum to identify markers that track or predict progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults seen in memory clinics, people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's, or volunteers already enrolled in partner diet and lifestyle intervention studies.
Not a fit: People without cognitive concerns, those unable to provide blood or stool samples, or those not near participating research centers are unlikely to join or directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could reveal blood or gut markers connected to Alzheimer's risk or progression, which may lead to earlier detection or new prevention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous ADNI and metabolomics studies have linked blood metabolites and the gut microbiome to Alzheimer's markers, but assembling an exposome-informed molecular atlas is a newer and more comprehensive effort.
Where this research is happening
DURHAM, UNITED STATES
- DUKE UNIVERSITY — DURHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KADDURAH-DAOUK, RIMA F — DUKE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: KADDURAH-DAOUK, RIMA F
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease