How air pollution chemicals could affect Alzheimer's and related dementias
IMPACT-ADRD: Investigating the Multi-omics Perturbations Associated with Complex Environmental Toxicants and their Contribution to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
This project looks at specific chemicals in air pollution and how they change molecules in people with or at risk for Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170549 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will link high-resolution air pollution maps with molecular testing of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and available brain tissue to see which pollution components are most harmful. They'll run multiple 'omics' tests (proteins, metabolites, and epigenetic markers) to find molecular fingerprints tied to those exposures. The team will compare these fingerprints with signs of Alzheimer's and related dementias to identify possible biological pathways. The work uses human samples and detailed exposure models to connect environmental toxicants with disease-related changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, or those at higher risk who can provide blood or CSF samples and allow researchers to use their exposure and health data.
Not a fit: People who cannot provide biological samples or who lack reliable air-exposure data are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal which pollution components raise dementia risk and point to biological markers for earlier detection or prevention.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier single-omics studies have shown pollution-related biological changes, but using integrated multi-omics to pinpoint specific toxic components is relatively new.
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.