As the 25th anniversary of the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks approaches, a study by Stony Brook Medicine researchers highlights long-term health concerns for WTC responders. The research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, reveals a potential link between prolonged exposure at Ground Zero and amyloid presence in the brain.
Amyloid is a protein that can form abnormal deposits, leading to amyloidosis—a condition associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s. The study involved brain scans of 35 WTC responders, revealing that longer exposure was linked to amyloid accumulation in the olfactory cortex.
“The take home point with this study is that we saw from the imaging that duration of WTC exposures had a direct link to amyloid in the brain, specifically in the olfactory cortex,” said Sean Clouston, lead author and professor at Stony Brook University.
Benjamin Luft, co-author and director of the Stony Brook WTC Health and Wellness Program, emphasized: “It is also important to emphasize that the presence of amyloid was associated with cognitive impairment in this cohort.” Nearly half of those studied showed signs of cognitive decline.
The study utilized PET and MRI scans over three years on volunteers monitored by the Stony Brook WTC Program. Responders exposed without masks to pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins exhibited increased amyloidosis burden.
Authors note: “Amyloidosis is concerning because it implies the presence of aging-related amyloidosis at younger ages. Findings imply that exposure to air pollution may be a cause of a novel form of neuropathology in severely and chronically exposed individuals.”
While cerebral amyloidosis might not directly cause Alzheimer’s, its association with such conditions remains significant. Researchers aim to continue their work with larger groups for further insight.
The study received funding support from agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute on Aging through various grants.