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Ambient PM2.5 exposure as a risk factor for accelerated brain and cognitive aging

Award Number: F31AG091999
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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Ambient PM2.5 exposure as a risk factor for accelerated brain and cognitive aging - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Alzheimer’s disease and relate dementia (ADRD) is a leading cause of death in the United States, and its financial and psychological consequences cause distress in both the patients and their care partners. Since research has not produced an agreed upon cure for ADRD, emphasis in clinical research remains on identifying modifiable risk factors to reduce late-life cognitive health risk. However, environmental factors such as air pollution have been largely overlooked. Air pollution is a persistent health risk in the United States, and high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are associated with incident ADRD, as well as poor general health and worsened cardiorespiratory fitness that further increases risk for ADRD. However, the evidence for when in the lifetime this vulnerability emerges and the neurobiological basis of the risk for cognitive decline have been inconsistent. The predominant cross-sectional study design with extreme age groups, and poor representation of the broader U.S. population, has impeded clinical translation of the evidence to meaningfully address this ADRD risk factor. This proposed study is entirely unique in the literature and addresses the outlined limitations by introducing new retrospective data collection to an established longitudinal community cohort, the Detroit Aging Brain Study (DABS). DABS is a nationally representative longitudinal cohort of healthy adults (age 18-90 years at baseline), with multi-occasion longitudinal assessments of brain structure and cognition. I introduced new, retrospective data collection in this sample for residential histories to allow PM2.5 exposure estimates based on geocoded addresses with validated models with high spatiotemporal resolution. I will address current gaps in the understanding of lifetime timing of exposure risk and neurobiological mechanisms of its effect on cognition with the following aims: 1) Determine the effects of recent ambient PM2.5 exposure on memory decline, 2) Demonstrate the effects of recent ambient PM2.5 exposure on longitudinal volume changes in age- sensitive brain regions associated with dementia risk, and 3) Evaluate timing and concentration of PM2.5 exposure effects on brain iron accumulation (a proxy biomarker of oxidative damage) in the hippocampus. I have assembled an inter-disciplinary mentoring team with expertise in neuroscience, gerontology, clinical dementia assessment and atmospheric chemistry. Sponsor Daugherty is a cognitive neuroscientist with expertise in structural MRI, including state-of-the-science methods to estimate iron as a biomarker of oxidative damage, and is Director of DABS. This training experience will prepare me for a postdoctoral fellowship and a career as an independent academic research scientist conducting translational research on how cognitive aging is modified by environmental factors.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $50,114 )
2026	2026	WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY	5700 CASS AVE STE 4900	DETROIT	MI	48202	WAYNE	USA	Aging Research	001	1	7/28/2026	NEW	$0
2026	2026	WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY	5700 CASS AVE STE 4900	DETROIT	MI	48202	WAYNE	USA	Aging Research	000	1	7/28/2026	NEW	$50,114
														Subtotal = $50,114

Grand Total All Awards = $50,114

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Ambient PM2.5 exposure as a risk factor for accelerated brain and cognitive aging

Award Number: F31AG091999

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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