Menopause-related DNA damage and gene-activity changes in Alzheimer's
Official title: The Role of Menopause-Driven DNA Damage and Epigenetic Dysregulation in Alzheimer s Disease
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11118919 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores whether DNA damage and shifts in gene activity during menopause help explain why more women develop Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $442,569 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079373-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118919 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women in perimenopause or postmenopause and people interested in how hormonal changes affect Alzheimer's risk would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose Alzheimer's is unrelated to sex-hormone changes, including many men, may not receive direct benefit from menopause-focused findings.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, this work looks at how the hormonal changes of menopause might cause DNA damage and change gene 'switches' in the brain that could speed Alzheimer's in women. The team will use mouse models that mimic a gradual menopause transition and will analyze brain tissue from about 300 people to track DNA repair enzymes and epigenetic marks. They will compare patterns between females and males and test how menopause-like conditions alter memory-related molecular pathways. The aim is to connect menopause-linked molecular changes to the higher Alzheimer’s risk observed in women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify targets to prevent or treat Alzheimer's in women by correcting DNA repair or epigenetic changes tied to menopause.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and molecular studies suggest hormones affect brain epigenetics and memory, but applying gradual menopause models alongside large-scale human brain analyses is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wahlestedt, Claes Robert — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wahlestedt, Claes Robert
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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.