Protecting the brain's estrogen-making enzyme to slow Alzheimer's, especially in women
Role of Brain Aromatase in Alzheimer's Dementia: Sex differences and the Preventive Therapy using Pulsed Photobiomodulation
This project tests whether keeping the brain enzyme aromatase active with estrogen or pulsed light therapy can slow memory decline in Alzheimer's, with attention to differences between women and men.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11196708 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use well-established Alzheimer's mouse models to track when brain aromatase and local 17β-estradiol fall relative to the first signs of memory loss. They will reduce or block aromatase to see if that speeds disease, and they will try to preserve aromatase using short estrogen treatments or pulsed photobiomodulation (PBM)/laser. The team will compare males and females, measure memory, brain plaques, synapses, and aromatase activity, and test whether PBM can directly boost the enzyme. The goal is to learn whether protecting brain aromatase can prevent or slow the changes that lead to Alzheimer's-related cognitive decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Future clinical candidates would likely include people at risk for Alzheimer's or with early memory problems, especially women and those using aromatase/estrogen-blocking medications.
Not a fit: People with advanced, late-stage Alzheimer's or unrelated neurological conditions are unlikely to benefit from the preventive approaches tested here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new preventive approaches—such as targeted light therapy or hormone strategies—that slow or delay Alzheimer's, particularly in women.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal work and some small PBM reports suggest promise, but using PBM to preserve brain aromatase as a prevention strategy is largely novel and unproven in people.
Where this research is happening
Augusta, United States
- Augusta University — Augusta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dhandapani, Krishnan M. — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Dhandapani, Krishnan M.
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.