Is the fertility hormone FSH linked to bone loss, weight gain, and Alzheimer's?
FSH - an Aging Hormone?
This project tests a new antibody that blocks the fertility hormone FSH to help older adults prevent bone loss, reduce body fat, and protect memory.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11365768 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This program builds on findings that the hormone FSH may drive bone loss, increased fat, and memory decline in aging animal models. The team developed an antibody called MS-Hu6 that blocks FSH and prevented those problems in mice and has completed early safety work in monkeys. Researchers from bone, metabolism, and neuroscience labs at Mount Sinai are moving the antibody toward aging-relevant tests and examining links between high FSH levels and low bone density or dementia risk in people. If human testing begins, it would likely focus on older adults who have bone loss, obesity, or early cognitive symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be older adults—especially postmenopausal women—with low bone density, obesity, or early memory problems who may have high blood FSH levels.
Not a fit: Younger adults, premenopausal women, or people whose conditions are unrelated to FSH-driven bone, weight, or memory changes are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful in people, blocking FSH could lower fracture risk, reduce excess body fat, and slow memory decline in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies showed that blocking FSH improved bone, fat, and cognition and early safety testing in monkeys has been done, but human efficacy is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zaidi, Mone — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Zaidi, Mone
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 below.