Timing of Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Brain Biomarkers in Women at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Official title: Timing of Menopausal Hormone Therapy across Perimenopause to Menopause Transition: Brain Estrogen Receptor Density and AD Biomarkers in Women
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11423209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study explores whether starting menopausal hormone therapy during a key window can influence brain markers and risk of Alzheimer's in women who are perimenopausal or postmenopausal.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2006 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $667,657 |
| NIH project number | 2P01AG026572-21 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women aged 40-70 who are perimenopausal or postmenopausal and at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (e.g., family history or APOE-ε4) who may or may not start menopausal hormone therapy under medical supervision.
✕Less likely to help
Women not interested in or not eligible for menopausal hormone therapy or without Alzheimer’s risk factors may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
Researchers will follow a group of women aged 40-70 who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease and are starting menopausal hormone therapy or not. They will use advanced brain imaging and blood tests to track brain estrogen receptor density, amyloid levels, and other markers of brain health over two years, alongside cognitive assessments. The study aims to see if initiating hormone therapy during a sensitive window could modify pathways linked to Alzheimer’s risk in women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help guide personalized prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s disease in women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar imaging studies have shown brain changes with hormonal influences; this study is designed to build on those findings with a larger, longitudinal approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Schantel — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Williams, Schantel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Timing of Menopausal Hormone Therapy to Protect Brain Health in Perimenopause
A research program uses AI and real-world data to understand how menopausal hormone therapy affects brain health and Alzheimer’s risk in women around menopause.
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Timing of menopausal hormone therapy and brain aging in Alzheimer's risk
A research program is exploring how menopause-era hormone therapy affects brain aging and biomarkers related to Alzheimer's risk in women.
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Timing of Hormone Therapy and Brain Health in Perimenopause
A study looking at how the timing and type of menopausal hormone therapy affect brain metabolism related to Alzheimer’s risk in women going through perimenopause.
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Timing of Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Brain Aging in Women at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
This NIH grant explores how the timing of hormone therapy during perimenopause affects brain aging and Alzheimer's risk in women.
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Understanding how vaginal tissue changes after menopause affect reproductive health
A research team is studying why the vaginal lining changes after menopause and how this affects health, with potential solutions to improve comfort and reduce infection risk for postmenopausal women.
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Menopause, hormones, and Alzheimer’s disease: an in vivo perspective
This project explores how hormone therapy around menopause might influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in postmenopausal women.
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.