Exposomic Contributions to ADRD Pathology and Resilience

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is interested in supporting research projects that investigate how specific neural exposome factors contribute mechanistically to Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD) pathology and resilience. The program aims to support research on the synergistic action between multiple exposome factors and the composite effects of mixtures of exposome factors on neural mechanisms relevant to ADRD. Some key points to consider include: • The exposome factors of interest include environmental toxins, sleep and circadian rhythms, stress, and the real-world conditions that modulate them. • Applicants are encouraged to focus on mechanistic pathways that link exposures to ADRD risk, progression, and resilience. • Applicants may propose mechanistic, translational, and/or human subjects research, drawing on clinical data, human samples, and observational or interventional studies. • NIH-defined clinical trials will not be supported under this program.