Hormones and memory in aging women

Hormones & Behavior Core

['FUNDING_P01'] · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · NIH-11269222

This project looks at how estrogen affects memory in older women, especially when they also have heart disease or obesity.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_P01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorTULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW ORLEANS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11269222 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers are creating a consistent model of menopause and hormone therapy using aging female rodents to study memory with and without estradiol treatment. They will test animals under different cardiometabolic conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease to see when estrogen helps, has no effect, or may harm cognition. The Core standardizes behavioral tests and methods so results from multiple projects can be compared and reproduced. Together the work aims to clarify why estrogen's effects on memory change with age and health status.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Older women concerned about cognitive decline or at risk for Alzheimer's disease, especially those with cardiovascular disease or obesity, would be the patient group most relevant to this work.

Not a fit: Men, much younger women, or people whose cognitive issues are unrelated to hormones or cardiometabolic health are less likely to benefit directly from this animal-focused core.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could help doctors choose better timing or tailored estrogen-based treatments to protect memory in older women, particularly those with heart or metabolic disease.

How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and human research has produced mixed results on estrogen and cognition, so this coordinated preclinical work aims to clarify when and why benefits occur.

Where this research is happening

NEW ORLEANS, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease and its related dementias, Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.