How estrogen affects tiny gene regulators (microRNAs) in Alzheimer's, especially in women
Official title: Sex-specific regulation of microRNAs in Alzheimer Disease
Funded at Loyola University Chicago · NIH-11242036 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how the hormone estrogen changes tiny gene regulators called microRNAs in the aging brain and in people with Alzheimer's to help explain why women are more affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola University Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Maywood, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $653,367 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082135-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11242036 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants for any related human work would be older adults, particularly postmenopausal women with Alzheimer's or at elevated risk who can provide medical history and biological samples.
✕Less likely to help
People whose Alzheimer's risk is unrelated to hormonal differences (for example younger individuals or cases driven by non-hormonal causes) may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will study the hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) and how it controls microRNA production and stability in the brain across different ages and in Alzheimer's. They will use miR degradation assays to measure how quickly microRNAs are broken down and proteomics to see which proteins change alongside those microRNAs. Experiments will compare age groups, brain regions, and effects of time since menopause to find patterns tied to disease. The team aims to identify estrogen-related changes that could explain higher Alzheimer’s risk in women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could clarify part of why women have higher Alzheimer's risk and point to hormone-related targets for prevention or treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work showed estrogen can change microRNA levels in the female brain, but linking estrogen-driven microRNA stability to Alzheimer's risk is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pak, Toni R. — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Pak, Toni 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.