Reproductive history and later-life brain health in women
Official title: Reproductive history and later-life brain health: The Bogalusa Heart Study
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11463472 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a woman's pregnancy history and reproductive factors relate to brain health and risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementias later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $717,602 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG075769-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463472 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who have or had multiple pregnancies or prolonged breastfeeding and who are available for cognitive testing and brain imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Women without relevant reproductive histories or who are not eligible for MRI/PET components may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how reproductive experiences, like the number of pregnancies and breastfeeding, are connected to memory, brain structure, and brain function in midlife and later life. The project uses data from the Bogalusa Heart Study, including cognitive tests, MRI, and PET scans, to explore sex-specific pathways linking metabolism after pregnancy to dementia risk. By focusing on a diverse cohort of women, the study aims to identify whether reproductive factors predict cognitive decline and brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This could help identify opportunities for early risk modification and personalized prevention for women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding reproductive factors could lead to personalized strategies to reduce dementia risk in women.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked reproductive history to metabolic and dementia risk, supporting the plausibility of sex-specific brain health associations, though this specific combined cognitive-imaging approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harville, Emily Wheeler — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Harville, Emily Wheeler
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.