Menopause and brain aging in female mice
Official title: Modeling the causal impact of menopause on female brain aging trajectories in mice
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11303182 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using mice to explore how menopause-related hormonal changes affect brain aging in females.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $209,998 |
| NIH project number | 1U54AG099000-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11303182 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are postmenopausal women or individuals with menopause-related cognitive concerns in the future, for now studied via animal models to translate findings.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits to patients are not from animal experiments alone, but findings may guide future human studies.
What this research studies
This project looks at how aging affects the female brain differently after menopause and uses mouse models to mimic human menopause. Researchers will study brain aging trajectories when estrogen levels change, aiming to identify mechanisms that contribute to memory and cognitive decline. The work will involve placing female mice through menopause-like hormonal states and tracking brain aging over time to find potential targets for therapies. The goal is to inform personalized approaches that support healthy brain aging in women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Advancing understanding of menopause-related brain aging could lead to targeted strategies to protect memory and cognitive function in women.
How similar studies have gone: Past research shows sex differences influence aging; this study builds on that by refining animal menopause models to better reflect human biology.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benayoun, Berenice Anath — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Benayoun, Berenice Anath
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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.