University of Southern California (USC) has been granted $25 million to investigate the factors that either accelerate or protect against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The grant, funded by the National Institute on Aging, will focus on the exposome – all environmental factors that can impact health outcomes and potentially lead to dementia.
The research project, known as the Gateway Exposome Coordinating Center (GECC), will bring together experts from various disciplines to analyze how environmental exposures influence dementia risk and how these risks can be minimized. Previous studies by USC have shown a connection between exposure to PM2.5 pollution and cognitive changes.
Principal investigator Jinkook Lee, from USC’s CESR program, emphasizes the urgency of understanding these impacts as the global population ages. Collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and Environmental Protection Agency will play a crucial role in shaping future environmental research.
The GECC initiative also expands the Gateway to Global Aging Data project, which has received significant funding for longitudinal studies on aging in 42 countries. This comprehensive approach aims to shed light on the complex relationship between environmental factors and dementia.
