As an early leader in brain epigenetics (the study of how, when, and why combinations of genes are turned on and off to make proteins), Nasser Zawia, University of Rhode Island (URI) professor of biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences and Ryan research professor of neuroscience, was among the first to show a potential link between childhood lead exposure and the development of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf your brain cells are impacted during this critical window of development, it can permanently reprogram gene expression,\u201d Zawia says. \u201cOnce your neurons develop, they mostly stay with you for a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His work has helped pave the way for the understanding of how environmental toxins\u2014particularly in poorer communities\u2014can lead to later disease. Chemical pollutants, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) once used in stain repellants, remain present in many household products. Zawia worked on a study with URI pharmacy Professor Angela Slitt on the role of PFOS in late-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese \u2018forever\u2019 chemicals enter your body and stay there a very long time,\u201d says Zawia. \u201cWe are finding that they have an impact on neuromuscular function and biomarkers of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, ADHD, and autism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zawia will serve as consultant on a new grant at Boston University to study the role of metallic toxins in Alzheimer\u2019s disease and related disorders. His research has also helped shed light at gene-level changes that may precede Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Recently, Zawia looked at the potential to repurpose an anti-inflammatory drug to \u201cturn off\u201d Alzheimer\u2019s disease at the gene level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany therapies target Alzheimer\u2019s disease at its end stages,\u201d explains Zawia. \u201cI\u2019m interested to see how we can intervene with the gene machinery before the pathology starts.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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