How sex and a blood‑pressure hormone in the memory center relate to Alzheimer's risk
Official title: The Impact of Sex and Hippocampal Angiotensin II on Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr · NIH-11308322 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether biological sex and levels of angiotensin II in the hippocampus change Alzheimer's risk, especially in post‑menopausal women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Worth, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $729,206 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085296-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11308322 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People most relevant to this work would include older adults concerned about Alzheimer's risk, especially post‑menopausal women or those with early signs of cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non‑Alzheimer's dementias or those with advanced Alzheimer's disease are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic‑science focused work in the short term.
What this research studies
From my point of view, researchers are exploring how being biologically female (XX), changes in sex hormones after menopause, and activity of angiotensin II in the hippocampus combine to drive brain changes linked to Alzheimer's. They will use laboratory experiments that link molecular signs of Alzheimer’s (like amyloid and tau), hormone signals, and angiotensin II activity to behavior and brain function. The team builds on prior findings that angiotensin II can worsen Alzheimer’s markers and that sex chromosomes and hormones influence angiotensin II signaling. Results are intended to point toward whether targeting angiotensin II pathways could help lower Alzheimer's risk in women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to prevent or slow Alzheimer's in post‑menopausal women by targeting angiotensin II signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown angiotensin II can amplify Alzheimer's markers and that sex hormones modify angiotensin II signaling, but translating this into targeted prevention for women is still novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
Fort Worth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cunningham, Rebecca L — University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Cunningham, Rebecca L
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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.