Dr. Gabriel Sosne, associate professor in Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, performs a cataract procedure aimed at restoring clarity and improving vision for patients.

From birth through the later decades of life, the human body and brain constantly adapt to experience and environments. Wayne State University researchers across disciplines not only study these influences - they develop solutions to improve lifelong health and well-being across Detroit and beyond. Their work advances early intervention and public policies that can change the trajectory for individuals, families and entire communities.

While researchers focus on different points in the lifespan - infancy, adolescence, adulthood and gerontology - it's clear that lifelong health is built over time, and no stage can be ignored. This collective effort is a focus of Wayne State's Grand Challenges initiative.

"We truly care about our community," said Dr. Ezemenari M. Obasi, Wayne State's vice president for research & innovation. "We care about the experiences of Detroiters and Michiganders. What better way to honor that commitment than by identifying the biggest challenges they face and aligning our research to help solve them? Our goal is to bring together the university and the community to collaborate in ways that create real change."

Infancy: How early relationships and environments shape lifelong outcomes

Infancy is the fastest period of brain development, and research shows experiences in these early years shape long-term physical and emotional health. At Wayne State's Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, faculty in the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and the expanded Perinatal and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, study how early relationships, stress and environment influence development from pregnancy through age 5.

Carolyn Dayton, associate professor of social work and associate director of the Infant Mental Health Program, leads her class through a presentation on how trauma exposure affects children's development.

"A baby's earliest relationships are their first source of safety and learning," said Carolyn Dayton, associate professor of social work and associate director of the Infant Mental Health Program. "Those early experiences shape the developing brain in ways that can support health or contribute to long-term challenges."

Much of the team's work builds on evidence from Adverse Childhood Experiences research, which shows that early exposure to trauma, chronic stress or harsh environments can increase the risk for mental and physical health problems later in life. Wayne State researchers are studying how those experiences affect infants biologically and behaviorally and, perhaps most importantly, how supportive caregiving can buffer many of those effects.

Their approach follows a two-generation model that overlaps the needs of both children and caregivers. Faculty specialize in areas including caregiver mental health, father involvement, developmental pathways, physiology and resilience, with the goal of strengthening the caregiving relationships that drive healthy development.

"Infant mental health isn't about treating babies," Dayton said. "It's about supporting the adults who shape a child's earliest experiences. Because that support is what drives healthy development."

The university's work also informs several early intervention models, including home visiting programs and the Early Childhood Support Clinic at Wayne Pediatrics and Early Childhood Court ("Baby Court"), which applies developmental science to decisions involving families with young children.

Across these efforts, the message is consistent: strengthening support for families during pregnancy and early childhood is one of the most effective strategies for improving lifelong health.

Adolescence: Sleep as a predictor of long-term well-being

As children enter adolescence, sleep becomes a key factor in shaping health and development. In the School of Medicine, Dr. Fatema Serajee, associate professor, studies how sleep patterns during this period influence cardiovascular function, metabolism and immune system development.

Dr. Fatema Serajee, associate professor, studies how sleep patterns during this period influence cardiovascular function, metabolism and immune system development.

"Sleep is not optional for teenagers - it's essential for healthy growth," Serajee said. "When adolescents don't get enough high-quality rest, we start to see changes that affect nearly every system in the body."

Serajee's research highlights how modern pressures like early school start times, increased academic demands, screen use and stress interfere with teens' sleep cycles. These disruptions, Serajee's work shows, can contribute to elevated inflammation, altered blood pressure patterns and early signs of metabolic risk.

As this effect can continue into adulthood, Serajee's findings are informing conversations about school policies, teen health programs and family routines.

Adulthood: How environment and diet influence long-term health

For Dr.Michael Petriello, associate professor in the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, adult health is shaped by a constant mix of environmental exposures and diet.

Dr.Michael Petriello, associate professor in the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

"We're exposed to dozens of chemicals every day," he said, noting that risks vary by ZIP code, occupation and lifestyle. He points to common air pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and water contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large group of human-made chemicals, as top concerns.

Petriello's research shows these chemicals can influence cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation - biomarkers clinicians use to assess heart disease risk. His work also demonstrates how diet can either intensify or reduce pollutant toxicity.

"Many pollutants and unhealthy diets are pro-inflammatory," he said. "When they act on the same pathways, the effects can magnify."

Detroit's unique environmental and dietary challenges shape his team's studies, including PFAS levels measured directly in residents. Petriello emphasizes regular primary care visits and increased environmental health literacy as practical steps adults can take now.

"We're exposed throughout our entire lives - not just in childhood," he said.

Older Adulthood: Understanding cataracts and how vision changes with age

Age-related eye diseases are a major focus for Dr. Gabriel Sosne, associate professor in Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences at Wayne State's School of Medicine, who explains that cataracts and glaucoma, although often mentioned together, affect the eye in very different ways.

A cataract forms when the eye's lens becomes cloudy and can cause glare, halos and frequent prescription changes. Surgery is recommended when these changes disrupt daily life.

"The lens is made of proteins and as we age or develop conditions like diabetes, those proteins change, causing the lens to get cloudy - like looking through a dirty windshield you can't clean," Sosne said.

Glaucoma, Sosne added, is caused by pressure inside the eye damaging the optic nerve. "Think of the eye like a tire under pressure," he said. "When the pressure builds too high, that can lead to vision loss."

Sosne's research focuses on better treatments for aging eyes. He and Dr. Elizabeth Berger are studying a natural molecule that helps the eye heal, now in clinical trials for severe dry eye and conditions where the eye struggles to repair itself.

He is also comparing traditional cataract surgery measurements with a newer tool, ORA (Optiwave Refractive Analysis) Wavefront technology, to help surgeons choose the most accurate replacement lens.

"We're looking for the most accurate way to determine which artificial lens will give patients the best results," he said.

Sosne expects artificial intelligence to further refine these decisions in the future.

Learn more about how Wayne State drives lifelong health.

To learn more this initiative and get involved, visit Wayne State's Grand Challenges page.

By Darlene A. White