Menopause and brain health in aging women
Official title: EFFECTS OF MENOPAUSE TRANSITION ON BRAIN STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND COGNITION
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11321217 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study follows women through menopause to see how hormonal changes affect brain structure, function, and thinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $275,609 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AG073585-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321217 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women aged 40-59 who are going through or nearing menopause and are willing to participate in longitudinal brain imaging and cognitive testing.
✕Less likely to help
Women not able to participate in long-term visits or with contraindications to MRI may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project adds new brain and cognitive measurements in up to 220 women aged 40-59 over multiple visits across about 10 years to map how menopause stages influence brain aging. It builds on the Human Connectome-Aging Project by collecting brain scans, connectivity data, and cognitive tests at two additional visits. The study aims to describe long-term brain changes (trajectories), how menopause symptoms relate to cognition, and what factors make some women more vulnerable or resilient. The emphasis is on sex differences in cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease risk related to menopause and hormones like estradiol. The work could pave the way for personalized strategies to protect brain health during midlife and beyond.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved understanding of menopause-related brain aging could lead to better strategies to preserve cognition and reduce dementia risk in women.
How similar studies have gone: Similar longitudinal brain-imaging studies have shown menopause-related patterns, but this project expands long-term data across all menopause stages.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maki, Pauline M — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Maki, Pauline M
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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.