How air pollution, weather, and green spaces affect Parkinson’s symptoms in older adults
Official title: (R01 Transfer) Characterizing the link between multiple environmental exposures and Parkinsons disease exacerbation
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11574545 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether everyday environmental factors like air quality, temperature, and access to parks worsen or improve Parkinson’s symptoms in people aged 65 and up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $457,587 |
| NIH project number | 7R01ES034373-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11574545 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with Parkinson’s disease or with a high likelihood of exposure to environmental factors and who can link health events to environmental data.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Parkinson’s or without access to the relevant environmental and health data may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you are 65 or older and have Parkinson’s, this study will analyze national data to see how exposures such as air pollution, temperature, and green spaces relate to hospitalizations and symptom flares. The researchers will combine environmental data with patient health records and use advanced statistics to account for other factors that could influence outcomes. The goal is to identify which exposures put patients at higher risk and which conditions or times of year might increase hospital visits. The work aims to guide public health strategies to protect vulnerable individuals and inform personalized recommendations for living environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help doctors and communities reduce risky exposures and support strategies to lessen PD symptom spikes and hospitalizations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests environmental factors can influence neurological symptoms, but this study applies national-scale, rigorous methods to link multiple exposures with PD exacerbations.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zanobetti, Antonella — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zanobetti, Antonella
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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.