Spatial mapping of brain chemistry in aging female macaques and menopause
Official title: A spatially resolved joint cortical metabolome and proteome in aging and menopause for the rhesus macaque
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11371105 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Duke University project studies how aging and menopause affect brain chemicals and proteins in female macaques to shed light on Alzheimer's disease in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $734,480 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG078616-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371105 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for or displaying early cognitive changes related to aging and Alzheimer's disease, especially women around menopause who may carry APOE ε4.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without risk factors or cognitive concerns may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses rhesus macaque monkeys to map how metabolism and proteins in the brain change with aging and menopause, aiming to mirror early, preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease seen in humans. By examining spatial patterns of metabolic and proteomic changes, researchers hope to identify early brain signatures that precede dementia. The study leverages a macaque model because their brain aging resembles human aging and menopause has parallels to human risk factors. Findings could guide later human studies and inform timing for potential interventions. The work combines advanced brain profiling with careful observation of aging processes in a nonhuman primate model relevant to human disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal early brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s risk, guiding earlier detection and targeted prevention strategies in people.
How similar studies have gone: Prior nonhuman primate work has shown that macaques can model some aspects of human brain aging and pathology, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Disney, Anita a — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Disney, Anita a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Reproductive events, menopause, and aging in Latina women
This project follows Latina women to understand how puberty, pregnancy, and menopause relate to aging and late-life health risks.
-
Menopause, Blood Vessels, and Brain Health in Aging Women
A large study in aging women will follow them over time to see how menopause and blood vessel health relate to brain aging and risk of dementia.
-
Menopause and brain aging in female mice
A study using mice to explore how menopause-related hormonal changes affect brain aging in females.
-
How heart muscle stiffness changes with age and menopause
This project uses a painless, free-breathing MRI technique to measure heart muscle stiffness in adults, with special focus on changes that happen around menopause in women.
-
Understanding Brain Changes in Aging and Menopause Related to Alzheimer's
This project looks at brain changes in aging and during menopause in a monkey model to better understand how Alzheimer's disease starts in people.
-
Understanding how heart stiffness changes in aging women, especially during menopause.
This study is looking at how heart stiffness changes in women as they get older, especially during menopause, to help understand how hormones might affect heart health and find ways to catch potential problems early.
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.