Manhasset, N.Y.– Researchers at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research have received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate how extreme heat and stroke disproportionately impact individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). The study aims to uncover how environmental and socioeconomic stressors intersect to influence stroke outcomes in this high-risk group.
Funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the study will be led by Dr. Pina C. Sanelli and Dr. Jason J. Wang. The team plans to analyze over a decade of health data from across the New York metropolitan area, focusing on acute ischemic stroke incidence and outcomes in neighborhoods with varying levels of heat vulnerability.
The research will explore how patients in areas with high Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) scores—an indicator combining environmental and socioeconomic risk factors—fare in terms of stroke severity, in-hospital mortality, and short-term disability. Individuals with Alzheimer’s are already more likely to suffer strokes and poorer recovery outcomes, but the additional burden of heat and socioeconomic stress remains under-researched.
“This grant allows us to explore the intersection of environmental, socioeconomic, and health factors influencing stroke outcomes,” said Dr. Sanelli, a professor at the Institute of Health System Science. “Our goal is to identify actionable strategies to mitigate these risks and improve the lives of vulnerable individuals.”
Previous studies have linked heat exposure to worsened outcomes in both Alzheimer’s and stroke independently. However, this will be the first large-scale investigation into how heat and socioeconomic disadvantage combine to affect stroke outcomes in Alzheimer’s patients—a group already facing significant challenges in recovery, including increased disability and complications like impaired swallowing.
“Preliminary data suggest a strong correlation between high heat vulnerability and increased stroke rates and severity,” Dr. Wang said. “This research will delve deeper into these connections, examining the physiological mechanisms at play and the disproportionate impact on individuals with ADRD.”
Supporting the project’s early findings, a paper published last year by the team in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health underscored the growing concern over climate-related health disparities.
“The link between extreme heat and stroke risk is a growing concern, particularly for those with cognitive impairments,” said Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes. “This funding allows our researchers to explore innovative approaches to mitigate this risk and pave the way for a healthier future for this vulnerable population.”
