Investigating how menopause affects women's brain health
Official title: MenoBrain: A Longitudinal Investigation of Menopause and Brain Health
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11021800 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how menopause affects brain health in women, and it's for women going through perimenopause who want to help us understand changes in memory and the risk of Alzheimer's disease over five years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,558,726 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG090417-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11021800 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women in the late reproductive to early menopausal transition stages.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing menopause or are postmenopausal may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the impact of menopause on brain health in women. It will involve recruiting 224 women transitioning through perimenopause and conducting detailed assessments of their brain structure, cognitive function, cardiovascular health, and hormone levels over a five-year period. By examining these factors, the study aims to uncover the neurobiological changes that occur during menopause and how they relate to memory decline and Alzheimer's disease risk. Participants will undergo two comprehensive evaluations to track changes and gather valuable data.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and management of cognitive decline in menopausal women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have indicated the importance of menopause in brain health, but this research aims to fill critical gaps with a rigorous longitudinal approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thurston, Rebecca C — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Thurston, Rebecca C
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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.