How menopause and ovarian hormone levels affect brain health and Alzheimer's risk in women
Official title: Influence of the Menopausal Transition and Lifetime Ovarian Exposure on Neural Metabolism, Connectivity and Pathology
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11054608 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how menopause and hormone changes might affect brain health and the risk of Alzheimer's in women, and it’s for women who want to learn more about how these changes could impact their memory and thinking as they go through menopause.
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 start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $808,819 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085643-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11054608 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women experiencing menopause or those at various stages of the menopausal transition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are premenopausal or those who have already been diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between menopause, ovarian hormone levels, and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in women. It focuses on how changes in hormone levels during the menopausal transition may influence brain metabolism and connectivity, which are early indicators of Alzheimer's pathology. By examining brain activity and connectivity patterns in women at different stages of menopause, the study aims to uncover protective effects of ovarian hormones against Alzheimer's disease. Participants may undergo brain imaging and hormone level assessments to better understand these connections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or delaying Alzheimer's disease in women by highlighting the importance of ovarian hormones.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results regarding the protective effects of ovarian hormones on brain health, suggesting that this research builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
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.