Improving a tool to analyze how climate change affects brain health in older adults
Official title: Enhancing SPACE, an innovative python package to account for spatial confounding used to estimate climate-sensitive events among older Medicare
Funded at Yale University · NIH-10839707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how things like air pollution and heat from climate change affect the health of older adults with Alzheimer's and similar conditions, and it aims to create a helpful tool to better understand these risks so we can protect their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $262,689 |
| NIH project number | 3RF1AG080948-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10839707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, who may be affected by environmental factors like air pollution.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger or do not have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how climate change, particularly air pollution and heat, impacts the health of older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. By developing a specialized software tool, the researchers aim to better estimate the effects of environmental factors on hospital admissions and mortality rates among this vulnerable population. The study will analyze various data sources to account for different factors that may influence these health outcomes, ensuring a more accurate understanding of the risks involved. Ultimately, the goal is to provide clearer guidelines for addressing the health impacts of climate change on older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for protecting the brain health of older adults in the face of climate change.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated links between environmental factors and brain health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bell, Michelle L — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Bell, Michelle L
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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.