Investigating the impact of WTC dust and climate change on Alzheimer's disease risk.
Official title: WTC Airborne Particulate and Climate Change as Risk Factors of Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10995009 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how breathing in dust from the World Trade Center disaster and climate change might lead to Alzheimer's disease later in life, especially in first responders who were exposed to a lot of this toxic dust, and it uses mice to help understand how this might happen.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $349,999 |
| NIH project number | 1U01OH012779-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10995009 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include first responders who were present at Ground Zero during the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, especially those with genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who were not exposed to the WTC dust or do not have genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research examines how exposure to airborne particulate matter from the World Trade Center disaster and climate change may contribute to the development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. It focuses on first responders who were exposed to high levels of toxic dust and aims to understand the neurological effects of this exposure, particularly in individuals with genetic vulnerabilities to Alzheimer's. The study utilizes a mouse model that mimics human genetic factors associated with Alzheimer's to explore these connections further.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for Alzheimer's disease in at-risk populations.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has indicated a link between environmental exposures and cognitive decline, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pasinetti, Giulio Maria — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Pasinetti, Giulio Maria
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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.