NIH Award Renewal Expands Nationwide Study Linking Environmental Factors to Alzheimer’s Disease Risk
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a second round of funding to the nationwide "Neighborhoods Study" led by the University of Wisconsin. The ongoing research evaluates how lifelong exposures—such as lead-contaminated infrastructure, heavy metals, and occupational toxins—impact the risk and early onset of Alzheimer’s disease and related demen
Published August 28, 2026
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has renewed funding for a comprehensive nationwide research effort aimed at understanding how a person’s environment and daily exposures influence their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).
Led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, The Neighborhoods Study examines lifelong exposures to environmental hazards, including lead-laced infrastructure, occupational toxins, and heavy metals found in human tissue. By evaluating these factors alongside socio-economic indicators, the study seeks to pinpoint why certain communities face significantly higher risks of neurodegenerative decline.
The first phase of the project contributed to the refinement of the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a critical tool currently used by public health experts to design tailored health interventions across the United States. With this new round of NIH funding, scientists hope to move closer to precision prevention strategies—helping clinicians identify high-risk individuals earlier and mitigate toxic exposures long before clinical symptoms appear.