Linking in utero exposures to midlife brain health and Alzheimer's risk
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-11385307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how environmental exposures before birth may affect thinking skills in midlife and support early signs of Alzheimer's risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| 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, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $684,397 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS130713-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with documented prenatal or early-life exposure data who are now in midlife and have risk factors for Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without midlife biomarker data or those not at risk for Alzheimer's may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows a long-term birth cohort to see if exposure to environmental toxicants before birth is linked to cognitive changes in midlife and early Alzheimer’s biomarkers. It uses metabolomics and blood biomarker analyses to identify signals that precede cognitive decline. The study builds on decades of data from mothers and children, testing pathways that connect early exposures to later brain health. If successful, these findings could point to new windows for preventing cognitive decline before symptoms appear.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to early detection markers and prevention strategies for Alzheimer's risk starting from birth or adolescence.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked metabolic changes and glutathione pathways to cognitive decline, supporting the potential relevance of these biomarkers.
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.