How menopause and lifetime ovarian hormones affect brain metabolism and connections
Influence of the Menopausal Transition and Lifetime Ovarian Exposure on Neural Metabolism, Connectivity and Pathology
This project looks at whether the menopausal transition and how long a woman has been exposed to ovarian hormones relate to changes in brain metabolism, network connections, and early Alzheimer's markers in women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299520 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked about your reproductive history and lifetime exposure to ovarian hormones and could provide blood or other samples. Researchers will use brain imaging to measure metabolic activity and the connectivity of brain networks, focusing on regions linked to Alzheimer's disease. They will compare patterns in women before, during, and after menopause and relate those patterns to hormone exposure and Alzheimer's biomarkers. The goal is to link midlife hormonal changes with early brain changes that precede dementia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women in midlife around the menopausal transition or postmenopausal women who can undergo brain imaging and share detailed reproductive and medical history are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Men, younger women far from menopause, or anyone unable to undergo MRI or unwilling to provide medical history or samples are unlikely to be helped by participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify why women face higher Alzheimer's risk and point to hormone-related strategies to protect the brain.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies have reported menopause-linked reductions in brain metabolism and changes in network connectivity that align with Alzheimer's markers, and this project builds on that growing evidence with more detailed lifetime hormone data.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andreano, Joseph M — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Andreano, Joseph 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.