PFAS effects on brain reward and pleasure
PFAS induced alterations in reward processing
This project looks at whether early-life exposure to PFAS chemicals changes how the brain experiences reward and pleasure in animals and people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11226571 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will study both animals and human samples to see if PFAS exposure changes brain circuits that control reward and causes symptoms like loss of pleasure (anhedonia). They will first set mouse PFAS doses based on PFAS levels measured in human brains to create a brain-relevant dosing plan. Mice will then undergo behavioral tests for reward-related responses and laboratory measures of neurotransmission. Human brain samples and clinical data will be compared with the animal results to link lab findings to people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (18+) with documented or suspected early-life PFAS exposure or adults reporting reduced ability to feel pleasure (anhedonia) may be relevant for the human parts of this work.
Not a fit: People without PFAS exposure, children (if the human work focuses on adults), or those with unrelated medical issues may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal a link between PFAS exposure and mood or reward problems, which could guide prevention, diagnosis, and future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Some animal studies and preliminary data suggest PFAS can alter neurotransmission, but human evidence on long-term effects on reward-related mental health is limited and this translational approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cannon, Jason R — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Cannon, Jason R
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.