How early-life lead exposure and genes may speed up Alzheimer's
Mechanisms of gene-environment interaction in developmental lead exposure leading to Alzheimer's disease phenotypes
This project tests whether lead exposure in childhood combined with certain genetic risks changes brain cell function and could make Alzheimer’s happen sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167618 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are examining how early-life lead (Pb) exposure might change gene regulation in ways that alter synaptic plasticity and protein handling in the brain. They focus on epigenetic changes that could alter glutamate receptors (NMDAR and AMPAR) and disrupt endosomal trafficking, and on how these effects interact with the Alzheimer's risk gene SORL1. The team will use laboratory models and molecular analyses to trace how these changes lead to protein aggregation and Alzheimer-like features. Their goal is to connect a modifiable environmental exposure to biological steps that could accelerate Alzheimer’s.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with documented early-life lead exposure or who carry known Alzheimer’s risk variants such as SORL1 would be most directly relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without a history of lead exposure and those with advanced-stage Alzheimer’s are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to preventable environmental risks and new molecular targets to delay or prevent Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and lab studies have linked developmental lead exposure and epigenetic changes to Alzheimer-like brain alterations, but combining this with SORL1 gene-by-environment mechanisms is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freeman, Jennifer L. — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Freeman, Jennifer L.
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.