How air pollution, microplastics, and metals may speed brain aging and dementia
PRE3BAD: Preclinical Research on Emerging Environmental Exposures, Brain Aging, and Dementia
This project looks at whether pollutants like wildfire smoke, microplastics, and heavy metals can speed up brain aging and raise the risk of Alzheimer’s-type dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195040 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses laboratory and animal models to follow how exposures to air pollution, microplastics, and dietary metals change the aging brain and processes linked to Alzheimer’s. Researchers will study effects on brain inflammation, the blood–brain barrier, protein folding, and brain metabolism, and compare exposures earlier versus later in life and intermittent versus continuous exposures. The goal is to identify which exposures and exposure timing cause the most lasting harm and why older brains may be more vulnerable. Findings are intended to guide future human studies and public-health steps to reduce harmful exposures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, older adults with significant exposure to air pollution or heavy metals, and those interested in the environmental contributors to dementia would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Young, healthy people with minimal exposure or individuals whose dementia is driven entirely by genetic causes unrelated to environmental exposures may not directly benefit from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to specific environmental contributors and exposure patterns that raise dementia risk, helping prevention efforts and policy decisions to protect older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and lab studies have shown that air pollution and some metals can cause neuroinflammation and blood–brain-barrier damage, while microplastics’ effects on the brain are newer and less well established.
Where this research is happening
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campen, Matthew J — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Campen, Matthew J
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.