PFAS exposure and bone, muscle, and heart health in older adults
Official title: Long-term prospective associations of PFAS with musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health among older adults
Funded at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. · NIH-11264898 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether long-term exposure to PFAS 'forever chemicals' is linked to weaker bones, lower muscle strength, and more heart problems in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Canton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 1, 2015 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $496,311 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES024765-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11264898 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are older adults—especially those with prior PFAS exposure (for example from contaminated water) or cardiometabolic concerns—who can provide blood samples and attend follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
People who are much younger, have no PFAS exposure, or require immediate treatment for acute bone or heart conditions are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this long-term research.
What this research studies
You would be followed over time while researchers measure PFAS levels in your blood and track changes in muscle mass, bone density, and heart health. The team builds on earlier findings tying PFAS to cholesterol, insulin resistance, and diabetes and will use clinical exams, lab tests, and medical records to study outcomes in older adults. They will also examine whether lifestyle factors like exercise and anti-inflammatory diets reduce any PFAS-related harms. The work uses long-term cohort data with ongoing follow-up visits and biospecimen collection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific lifestyle steps and policy changes to lower PFAS-related risks to bones, muscles, and heart health in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies, including the investigators' earlier work, have linked PFAS to metabolic risks and suggested lifestyle changes may lessen harm, but long-term effects on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health in older adults are still not well established.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
Canton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oken, Emily — Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
- Study coordinator: Oken, Emily
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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.