Does Vaping Increase the Risk of Dementia?

Aims and Objectives

While the detrimental effects of air pollution on respiratory and cardiovascular health are well established; there is limited understanding on the adverse effects of air pollutants on cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g dementia). Furthermore, e-cigarettes (e-cigs) have become increasingly common in the recent decade, often being promoted as a safer alternative to smoking. We hypothesize that the aerosols produced from e-cigs during vaping have the potential to contribute to cognitive decline or exacerbate existing conditions that may lead to dementia.

In the present cross-cutting proof of concept study, through laboratory-based experiments, we will quantify the key constituents released during e-cig vaping and their impact on the human body at the cellular and molecular level. Through this new collaboration between environment, biology and biophysics we will pave the way for a more comprehensive understanding of how environmental factors impact neurological/brain health, fostering advancements in both scientific knowledge and public health interventions.