Wildfire smoke and faster aging of the brain and blood
Acceleration of Circulatory and Neurological Aging due to Wildfire Exposures
This project looks at how breathing wildfire smoke might speed up blood and brain aging in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258895 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear how wildfire smoke changes proteins and inflammatory signals in the blood that can harm blood vessels and the brain. The team measures blood markers tied to vascular damage, inflammation, and Alzheimer's (such as amyloid beta and VCAM‑1) and compares people with different exposure histories. They use laboratory models to test whether these smoke-related blood changes make the blood-brain barrier leakier and trigger brain inflammation. This work connects real-world smoke exposure to molecular changes that could raise dementia risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults or people at increased risk for Alzheimer's who live in or recently experienced wildfire smoke exposure, especially in the Western United States.
Not a fit: People with no significant smoke exposure, younger individuals without dementia risk factors, or those needing immediate clinical Alzheimer's treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal blood signals that identify people most harmed by wildfire smoke and suggest targets to prevent or slow pollution-linked dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Epidemiological studies link air pollution and wildfire smoke to cognitive decline, but detailed molecular and mechanistic links to Alzheimer’s remain relatively novel and under active study.
Where this research is happening
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campen, Matthew J — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Campen, Matthew J
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.