Environmental factors and Lewy body dementia: linking claims data with lab work
Official title: The Impact of Environmental factors on Lewy Body Dementia: Combining Claims Data and Mechanistic Studies
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11599537 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to find environmental factors that influence Lewy body dementia by combining big health data with lab studies, to understand what might worsen the condition and who is most at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 6, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,440,807 |
| NIH project number | 7RF1NS144225-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11599537 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with Lewy body dementia or those at risk who are part of the Medicare population and whose data could be analyzed alongside environmental exposure information.
✕Less likely to help
People without Lewy body dementia or those not represented in the Medicare data may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will analyze Medicare claims to identify environmental exposures that may affect Lewy body dementia and use lab studies to explore how those factors influence disease mechanisms. By applying advanced causal-inference methods to large, real-world data and validating findings in a lab model of Lewy body dementia, researchers hope to pinpoint modifiable factors and vulnerable groups. The work bridges epidemiology and mechanistic science to improve our understanding of how the environment interacts with LBD. Outcomes could guide prevention strategies and personalized risk profiling for patients and families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could highlight actionable environmental factors to reduce risk or progression and improve care planning for people with Lewy body dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work using large claims data and lab models has shown promise in linking environment to neurodegenerative processes, but this specific combination for Lewy body dementia is relatively novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zanobetti, Antonella — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zanobetti, Antonella
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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.