Early brain changes linked to menopause and Alzheimer's in a rat model
Official title: Longitudinal imaging in a preclinical model of Alzheimer's Disease to identify early biomarkers of cognitive decline
Funded at Marquette University · NIH-11356671 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in aging rats explores how loss of ovarian hormones around perimenopause might speed up brain changes and memory problems related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marquette University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $309,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG100774-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11356671 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease and those approaching or experiencing perimenopause where hormonal changes may influence progression.
✕Less likely to help
Results from animal studies may not directly translate to every patient; human-specific effects will require further study.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer’s disease to track brain activity and hormone-related effects over time. They will image neurons and amyloid deposits while the animals perform a memory task that resembles human testing, and they will analyze how hormone loss timing influences neural and behavioral decline. Advanced data methods, including machine learning, will help identify brain activity patterns that forecast future cognitive problems. The work aims to uncover early biomarkers that signal when intervention might be most effective for women around midlife. This could guide future strategies to prevent or slow dementia in people at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal early brain signals and windows for intervention to reduce dementia risk in women around perimenopause.
How similar studies have gone: Similar imaging-focused animal studies have identified biomarkers predictive of cognitive decline, though directly linking menopause-related hormone changes to AD progression is a novel aspect.
Where this research is happening
-
Marquette University
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilmartin, Marieke R — Marquette University
- Study coordinator: Gilmartin, Marieke R
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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.