Common plastic chemicals (bisphenols) and blood-brain barrier damage in Alzheimer’s
Bisphenol-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease
This project looks at whether everyday plastic chemicals called bisphenols damage the brain’s protective barrier and raise Alzheimer’s-related proteins in people with or at risk for Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144270 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will trace how bisphenols such as BPA, BPF, and BPS affect the blood-brain barrier and the transporter (P-glycoprotein) that helps clear amyloid-beta. They will use laboratory models, animal experiments, and analyses tied to human exposure to map the signaling steps that cause barrier leakage and increased amyloid levels. The team aims to connect environmental bisphenol exposure to processes that drive cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s. Findings are intended to point to biological targets for preventing or reversing barrier damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease, those with early signs of cognitive decline, or individuals concerned about long-term exposure to bisphenols would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment or cure are unlikely to benefit directly, since this is mechanistic, preclinical-focused research rather than a therapeutic trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify modifiable environmental causes of blood-brain barrier damage and suggest ways to lower Alzheimer’s risk or slow cognitive decline.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies, including the investigators’ preliminary data, show bisphenols can disrupt the blood-brain barrier, but confirming a causal link and human impact remains novel and incomplete.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hartz, Anika M.s. — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Hartz, Anika M.s.
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.