Air pollution isn’t just choking our lungs; it’s silently harming our brains too. At the cutting edge of this discovery is Team RAPID, a pioneering group from University College London based at the Francis Crick Institute. Their mission? To unravel the link between the air we breathe and the rise of dementia.
Funded through Race Against Dementia’s Teams programme, Team RAPID aims to uncover how PM2.5 particles – the tiny, toxic pollutants in the air – are driving brain inflammation and neurodegeneration.
A growing crisis: air pollution and dementia
PM2.5 particles are so small they can enter the bloodstream, triggering immune responses that don’t just impact our lungs – they can activate inflammation in the brain, damaging critical cells.
Team RAPID’s research shows that when brain cells like microglia and astrocytes, which usually help maintain healthy brain function, become overstimulated by pollution, they release inflammatory substances that harm surrounding neurons. This damage could be a key driver behind the cognitive decline seen in dementia.
The unmet need in pollution and dementia research
Despite the growing evidence of pollution’s effect on cognitive health, this area remains largely unexplored. The majority of dementia research has focused on other triggers, leaving air pollution’s role understudied.
Using a revolutionary animal model – the first of its kind – Team RAPID has replicated the effects of air pollution on the brain in a way that mirrors human data. This breakthrough provides scientists with an unprecedented opportunity to understand how environmental toxins influence brain function. The research group’s previous work, published in Nature in 2023, highlighted the link between pollution and lung cancer. Now, they are hypothesizing a similar mechanism could be at play in the brain.
What’s next? Unlocking the mechanisms behind dementia
Team RAPID’s work is about more than just proving the link between pollution and dementia; it’s about finding solutions. They are delving into the molecular mechanisms behind brain inflammation, searching for new ways to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Their next steps include:
- Developing new models: The team is using cutting-edge technologies to model air pollution’s effects on brain cells in dishes, animals, and even cells derived from patients. These models are the foundation for understanding how to combat the harmful effects of pollution on the brain.
- Identifying new targets for treatment: By exploring how pollution triggers inflammation in the brain, Team RAPID hopes to identify new therapeutic targets that could prevent or treat dementia before it takes hold.
- Transforming our understanding of dementia: If air pollution can be shown to drive the deterioration of brain cells it will open a new realm of possibilities for preventing dementia, offering hope to millions around the world.
Why this work is so innovative
Team RAPID is transforming how we think about air pollution and dementia. No other research team has created such a comprehensive model for studying the effects of environmental toxins on the brain and they are well-positioned to explore these critical connections.
The team’s interdisciplinary approach is key to their success. Led by Professors Sonia Ghandi and Charles Swanton, Team RAPID brings together experts in neurobiology, cancer biology, chemistry and genetics, creating a powerful, collaborative environment. Co-investigators include Dr Imran Noorani, Prof Nicholas Wood, Prof Dario Alessi, Prof Mina Ryten and Dr Mathew Horrocks. Their unique combination of skills allows them to tackle one of the most complex health challenges of our time and utilise different approaches to the problem.
What the experts are saying
The scientific community is already taking notice. The panel that reviewed Team RAPID’s work praised the team’s innovative approach and their commitment to exploring an uncharted aspect of dementia research. Experts are particularly excited about the team’s ability to translate findings from lung cancer research into new insights on neurodegeneration.
The road ahead
With dementia affecting millions of people worldwide and the problem only expected to grow, Team RAPID’s work offers a new perspective to the problem. By tackling the role of air pollution in neurodegeneration, they are charting a new course for research that could one day lead to disease modifying interventions.
Team Rapid is one of six Race Against Dementia Teams, learn about another team HERE
