How air pollution affects anxiety and brain function in adolescents
Official title: Impact of ambient PM2.5 concentrations on fear extinction recall, frontolimbic circuitry, and anxiety in adolescents
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-10914655 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how air pollution, specifically tiny particles in the air called PM2.5, might affect anxiety and brain function in teenagers, helping us understand how breathing in dirty air could be linked to anxiety problems in young people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $74,284 |
| NIH project number | 5F32MH133274-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914655 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have been exposed to varying levels of PM2.5 and exhibit symptoms of anxiety.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents or those without anxiety symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of ambient PM2.5 air pollution on anxiety and brain function in adolescents. It aims to understand how exposure to higher levels of PM2.5 may impair fear extinction recall and alter brain activity in regions associated with emotional regulation. By examining these relationships, the study seeks to uncover the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that link air pollution to anxiety disorders in youth. Participants will be assessed for anxiety symptoms and brain function through various psychological and neuroimaging techniques.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment strategies for anxiety disorders in adolescents affected by air pollution.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown associations between air pollution and mental health outcomes, but this specific approach to studying fear extinction and brain function in adolescents is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zundel, Clara — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Zundel, Clara
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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.