How everyday metals may speed up aging and affect heart and metabolic health in teens
Impact of Metals on Biological Aging and Cardiometabolic Traits in Adolescents
Researchers are looking at whether common toxic metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury in early life are linked to faster biological aging and higher heart and metabolic risk in adolescents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10820520 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project examines exposure to common toxic metals and whether those exposures show up as changes in biological aging markers (like DNA methylation patterns and telomere length) and early signs of cardiometabolic problems. Scientists will measure metal levels and aging-related biomarkers and compare them to BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar in adolescent and young adult participants. The work focuses on adolescence as a sensitive time when environmental exposures may shape lifelong heart and metabolic health and emphasizes populations who face higher exposure risks. Findings aim to inform exposure reduction and prevention strategies for vulnerable communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults (roughly ages 11–20), particularly those with known or suspected exposure to lead, arsenic, cadmium, or mercury.
Not a fit: People outside the adolescent/young adult age range or those with established adult cardiovascular disease are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify metal exposures that raise future heart and metabolic disease risk in teens and support strategies to reduce those exposures.
How similar studies have performed: Previous population studies have linked metal exposures to adult cardiovascular disease, but applying biological aging markers to adolescents is a relatively new and emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Argos, Maria — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Argos, Maria
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.