How air pollution changes blood and brain chemicals tied to Alzheimer's and dementia
Air pollution, the blood and brain metabolome and their effects on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
This work looks at whether common air pollutants change chemicals in the blood and brain that are linked to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, which could help people at risk of memory loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11305307 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be connected to research that combines detailed air pollution measurements with chemical profiles from blood and brain tissue to find biological links to Alzheimer's and related dementias. The team will measure different parts of fine particle pollution (PM2.5) and other pollutants like NO2, O3, and CO, and run metabolomics tests to capture small-molecule changes in blood and brain. They will compare these chemical patterns to known Alzheimer's markers such as amyloid-related measures across large groups and stored samples. The goal is to identify which pollution components and biological pathways are most tied to dementia risk so public health steps can reduce harm.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are older adults or people enrolled in dementia-related cohorts who can provide blood samples, clinical data, or allow use of stored brain biospecimens, especially those living in areas with varying air pollution levels.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to air pollution exposure or those with very advanced dementia are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating in this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific pollution sources and biological pathways to target with public health policies or prevention efforts to lower dementia risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown links between air pollution, changes in the blood metabolome, and dementia risk, but this project is larger and aims to identify the specific pollutant components and brain pathways involved.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huels, Anke — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Huels, Anke
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.