Investigating how changes in estradiol levels affect mood and reward in perimenopausal women
Official title: Elucidating Estradiol Variability’s Impact on Dopaminergic Reward Circuitry in Perimenopausal Anhedonia
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11163957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in estrogen levels during perimenopause might affect mood and feelings of pleasure in women who are experiencing a lack of enjoyment, which is a common symptom of depression. By using special brain imaging techniques, researchers want to see how these hormone changes relate to brain activity and how women feel, hoping to learn more about what happens in the brain during this important time in women's lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $40,441 |
| NIH project number | 1F31MH138060-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are perimenopausal women experiencing symptoms of anhedonia or major depressive disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not perimenopausal or do not experience depressive symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how fluctuations in estradiol levels during perimenopause may impact mood and the brain's reward system, particularly in women experiencing anhedonia, a key symptom of major depressive disorder. Using advanced imaging techniques like simultaneous PET-MR, the study aims to explore the relationship between estradiol variability and dopamine activity in the brain's reward pathways. Participants will undergo assessments to measure dopamine binding and brain connectivity while also reporting their experiences of anhedonia. The findings could provide insights into the neurobiological mechanisms at play during this critical transition in women's health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for perimenopausal women suffering from depression and anhedonia.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach using simultaneous PET-MR is novel, related research has shown promising results in understanding hormonal influences on mood and reward systems.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hynd, Megan Rose — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Hynd, Megan Rose
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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.