Emerging evidence suggests that the environment has important adverse neurological effects across the lifecourse in susceptible populations. This raises important clinical and public health concerns. The Center has brought together talented investigative teams to lead the emerging field of environmental determinants of cognitive decline, stroke, neurodevelopment, and autism. 

The Neurological Outcomes Research Program investigates environmental determinants of cognitive decline and associated structural brain changes, Alzheimer’s dementia, and stroke in the elderly as well as the effects of early-life exposures to air pollution, traffic-related air pollutants, and other toxicants in conjunction with a range of cognitive and behavioral health outcomes and trajectories of neurodevelopment among children. Mechanistic studies focus on neurodevelopmental and inflammatory processes and susceptibility to particulate air pollution.

Recent Highlights

• Research Program investigators reported the first epidemiologic evidence linking PM2.5 exposure with increased dementia risk in the U.S. Genetic susceptibility to these effects, and associated mechanisms, were corroborated by complementary translational animal and in vitro models.

• Existing and new cohorts are being leveraged to study the impacts of air pollution and other contextual exposures on neurodevelopment and brain health across the lifecourse (e.g. Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, ENIGMA Consortium).