How sex chromosomes and hormones shape brain immune responses in Alzheimer's
Official title: The developmental effects of sex chromosomes and hormones specify microglial inflammation in Alzheimer's diseaes
Funded at Northeast Ohio Medical University · NIH-11243539 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is looking at whether genetic sex and sex hormones change brain immune cells in Alzheimer's disease to help explain why women are more affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeast Ohio Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rootstown, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $390,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075897-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11243539 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease or those at high risk for Alzheimer's, especially women, could be future candidates for related clinical trials informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose dementia is unrelated to inflammation or who do not have Alzheimer's disease may not benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will use well-established mouse models that mimic Alzheimer's pathology and combine them with genetic tools that separate chromosomal sex from gonadal sex. They will manipulate hormone exposures and compare microglial (brain immune cell) inflammation, Alzheimer-type pathology, and related molecular signals across groups. Experiments include tissue analysis, cellular profiling, and behavioral measures in the mice to link inflammation patterns to disease features. The work is lab-based and preclinical, aiming to reveal mechanisms that could guide future human therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal sex-specific inflammatory pathways that lead to more tailored prevention or treatment approaches for Alzheimer's, particularly benefiting women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and laboratory studies have found sex-linked differences in microglial responses, but turning those findings into effective human treatments has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Rootstown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reed, Erin G — Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Study coordinator: Reed, Erin G
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.