A Hidden Hormone That May Help Preserve Thinking as We Age
Official title: An Overlooked Steroid Hormone as a Driver of Cognitive Resilience
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11442545 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small exploratory study in adults 21+ looks at whether the hormone ADIOL could protect thinking skills as people age, especially in the context of Alzheimer’s risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $451,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG104396-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442545 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, or who are studying cognitive aging.
✕Less likely to help
People without AD/ADRD risk or cognitive aging concerns may not directly benefit from this exploratory work.
What this research studies
This NIH grant explores whether the steroid hormone ADIOL helps maintain cognitive function in aging adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers will use non-human models for initial insight and plan to translate findings toward human studies, with a focus on brain signaling pathways and how ADIOL interacts with ERβ and NMDA-related processes. The goal is to identify if boosting ADIOL can improve learning and memory by modulating brain chemistry linked to aging and dementia. Results could point toward new strategies to support healthy cognitive aging in people at risk for AD/ADRD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide future therapies to help people maintain memory and thinking skills as they age, particularly for those at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in animals show that ADIOL can influence learning and memory and modulate brain pathways, supporting further investigation in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ashrafi, Kaveh — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ashrafi, Kaveh
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.