How estrogen and heart/metabolic health affect memory in aging women
Estrogens, Cardiometabolic Health, and Female Cognitive Aging
This project is seeing if estrogen treatment protects thinking and memory in older women and whether conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure change that effect.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11269206 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, scientists are using aging female animal models that mimic menopause to give estrogen treatment with and without cardiometabolic disease and then measure brain and memory outcomes. The program includes four linked projects that look at how heart and metabolic health alter estrogen's actions in the brain and how those changes affect memory systems. Researchers will study molecular and cellular mechanisms in the brain as well as systemic cardiometabolic responses to understand why estrogen helps some subjects but not others. The goal is to translate findings into guidance about when estrogen might support cognitive health in aging women.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The findings would be most relevant to postmenopausal women concerned about cognitive aging, including those with or without diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or high blood pressure.
Not a fit: The hypothesis is that women with existing cardiometabolic disease may not receive cognitive benefit from estrogen therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show when menopausal estrogen might help protect memory and who is most likely to benefit or be harmed.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown estrogen can be neuroprotective, but human trials have produced mixed results and the area remains uncertain.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Daniel, Jill M — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Daniel, Jill M
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 below.