Understanding how chemical exposures affect Alzheimer's disease progression
Official title: The Role of Chemical Exposures in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and its Trajectory
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11605998 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how environmental chemicals and other biological factors influence brain health and the course of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,197,181 |
| NIH project number | 7U01AG088562-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11605998 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for or diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who participate in ADNI, AGMP, and related cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
People not enrolled in the ADNI, AGMP, POINTER, MIND, BEAT-AD or similar cohorts may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine advanced metabolomics, lipidomics, genomics, and brain imaging to map how external chemicals, diet, gut microbes, and lifestyle shape metabolic pathways that relate to Alzheimer’s disease. The work is part of a larger precompetitive AMP-AD effort and includes partnerships with the ADNI and the gut microbiome project to build a comprehensive molecular atlas of AD and ADRD. By linking peripheral metabolic signals to brain changes and disease markers, the study aims to identify new diagnostic clues and potential therapeutic targets. The consortium approach leverages existing cohorts and data to accelerate discovery and translation into better care for patients with AD and related dementias.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Possibly earlier and more accurate diagnostics and new avenues for treatment tailored to metabolic and exposome influences on AD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows peripheral metabolic changes can reflect brain changes and AD markers, supporting this approach's potential.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaddurah-Daouk, Rima F — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Kaddurah-Daouk, Rima F
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Alzheimer’s disease and related brain changes linked to chemicals in the body
This NIH grant supports a patient-centered effort to map how environmental exposures and body chemistry relate to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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Understanding how everyday exposures affect Alzheimer's disease progression
A national research effort is studying how environmental exposures, gut health, diet, and metabolism relate to Alzheimer's and related dementias to identify new ways to diagnose and treat these conditions.
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How environment, gut health, and metabolism affect Alzheimer’s disease
This grant looks at how environmental exposures, gut microbes, diet, and metabolism influence Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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CNS Exosomes and Adaptive Immunity in Alzheimer’s Disease
This project studies how tiny brain vesicles called exosomes may activate the body's immune system in Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of understanding mechanisms that could lead to new treatments.
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How everyday chemical exposures may affect Alzheimer's disease and its course
Researchers will analyze blood, gut, genetic, and brain imaging data from people with and without Alzheimer's to find chemical and metabolic patterns tied to the disease.
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.