EXPOSIGNALZ

The overall aim of EXPOSIGNALZ is to gain insights into the impact of a selection of environmental pollutants on brain health throughout life and their role in Alzheimer’s disease, which represents approximately 70% of dementia cases.

Methods

This project will focus on a subset of pollutants which are classified as hazardous waste for their potential Alzheimer’s disease related properties. The subset of pollutants will be screened for acute and chronic neurotoxicity using multiwell microelectrode array (mwMEA) recordings. Additionally, brain translocation predictions will be established based on physico-chemical properties and available literature. Alongside this, an in vitro human iPSC derived blood-brain barrier, cultured on transwell filters, will be used to evaluate if and to what extent these chemicals affect blood-brain barrier function and integrity.

Background

Various types of chemical pollutants, also called hazardous waste, are present in the environment. This includes pesticides, industrial waste releasing heavy metals and persistent chemicals, pharmaceutical residues, and electronic waste. Several pollutants have been detected in humans (e.g. blood and hair) and some have already been associated with chronic diseases. Moreover, exposure to environmental pollutants has been linked with harmful effects on the brain. Dementia represents one of the leading causes of disability among older people, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for 60-70% of cases. However, evidence has shown that 12 modifiable risks account for 40% of dementia cases worldwide, indicating that other factors are involved for the remaining 60%. This raises the question of the potential role of other environmental pollutants in Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, EXPOSIGNALZ aims to identify environmental pollutants that likely have neurotoxic effects that can be linked to Alzheimer’s disease by integrating experimental and epidemiological studies.