Everyday environmental chemicals and Alzheimer's risk
The Study of the Environment and Alzheimer's disease and related Dementias (SEAD)
This project looks at whether common environmental chemicals like lead and cadmium raise the chance of developing Alzheimer's dementia in older U.S. adults by linking national exposure data to long-term health records.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11380143 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using chemical measurements from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 1998 and 2010 and linking those records to Medicare claims to see who later develops Alzheimer's or related dementias over up to 25 years. They will first focus on long-term exposure to lead and cadmium and then systematically examine a wide range of environmental exposures (the exposome) for ties to dementia risk. The team will also test whether adding exposome information improves prediction of who will develop dementia. This work uses existing national data rather than enrolling new patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The study population is older U.S. adults represented in NHANES and Medicare data, particularly people age 65 and older with recorded environmental exposure measurements.
Not a fit: Younger people, those without Medicare or NHANES exposure data, and individuals whose dementia is driven solely by genetic causes may not receive direct benefit from this analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could identify preventable environmental risks and help public health efforts and clinicians reduce dementia cases and improve early risk prediction.
How similar studies have performed: Early population studies have suggested links between lead and cadmium and dementia, but comprehensive long-term national analyses are limited and this project aims to address that gap.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Sung Kyun — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Park, Sung Kyun
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.