How stress and hormones affect Alzheimer's risk in men and women

Interactions of Sex and Gender Factors in Risk for Alzheimers Disease: Links Between Stress, Neural Activity, Inflammation, and Memory

NIH-funded research Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-10811758

This study is looking at how being a woman and the effects of stress and hormones might affect memory and brain health in middle-aged women with a family history of Alzheimer's, to help find ways to lower their risk of developing the disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project IDNIH-10811758 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how gender and sex influence the biological processes that contribute to the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. It focuses on the impact of gender-linked stressors and estrogen levels on memory, brain activity, and inflammation in midlife women who have a family history of Alzheimer's. By examining these interactions, the study aims to uncover mechanisms that may lead to Alzheimer's pathology and develop potential interventions to reduce risk. Participants will undergo assessments related to memory and brain function to better understand these relationships.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are midlife women with a family history of Alzheimer's disease who have experienced gender-linked stressors.

Not a fit: Patients who are not midlife women or do not have a family history of Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in individuals affected by gender-linked stressors.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the role of gender and stress in Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Cleveland, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndromeAlzheimer's Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.