Ovary removal before menopause and later brain health markers
Premenopausal bilateral oophorectomy and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s and cerebrovascular diseases
['FUNDING_R01'] · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · NIH-11371413
This project will compare brain imaging markers linked to Alzheimer’s and blood-vessel disease in women who had both ovaries removed before menopause and in women who did not.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11371413 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would join a group of about 300 women drawn from an established population cohort, half who had premenopausal bilateral oophorectomy (ovary removal) and half who did not. Researchers will collect brain imaging and other biomarker data to look for signs of Alzheimer’s-related changes and cerebrovascular disease many years after surgery. The team will use the same tests and procedures across participants to compare patterns between the two groups. The study also considers differences by race because ovary removal before menopause is more common in some groups.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are women from the source population who had both ovaries removed before natural menopause and comparable women who did not have that surgery.
Not a fit: People who are male, who never had ovaries, or who are seeking immediate treatment for dementia are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how removing ovaries before menopause affects brain disease risk and help inform monitoring or prevention for affected women.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked premenopausal ovary removal to higher dementia risk, but applying brain imaging and biomarker measures to explain the biological mechanisms is a more recent and developing approach.
Where this research is happening
ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES
- MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER — ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KANTARCI, KEJAL — MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- Study coordinator: KANTARCI, KEJAL
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia