Investigating how environmental exposures during pregnancy affect cognitive health and Alzheimer's risk later in life.
Official title: Association of the in Utero Exposome with Life-Course Cognition and Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease in Midlife.
Funded at Public Health Institute · NIH-10597462 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how harmful substances that pregnant people might come into contact with can affect their children's thinking skills as they grow up, especially when they reach middle age, and it aims to find signs that could show a higher risk of Alzheimer's Disease later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Public Health Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $2,130,150 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1NS130713-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10597462 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who were part of the Child Health and Development Studies birth cohort and are now in midlife, particularly those with a family history of Alzheimer's Disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the specified birth cohort or those who do not have a history of cognitive dysfunction or Alzheimer's Disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of environmental toxicants that pregnant individuals may be exposed to and how these exposures can influence cognitive function in their children as they reach midlife. By analyzing blood samples and metabolic changes over time, the study aims to identify biomarkers that could indicate an increased risk of Alzheimer's Disease. The research utilizes a long-term follow-up of a birth cohort to track cognitive development from childhood through adulthood, providing a comprehensive view of how early life exposures can affect brain health later on.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing Alzheimer's Disease by identifying critical periods and biomarkers for intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in linking early life exposures to cognitive outcomes, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights into Alzheimer's prevention.
Where this research is happening
-
Public Health Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cohn, Barbara a — Public Health Institute
- Study coordinator: Cohn, Barbara a
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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.