Could Menopause Hold Clues to Women's Alzheimer's Risk?

New $3.4 million NIH-funded research at Rosalind Franklin University will examine how hormonal changes during perimenopause affect brain circuits involved in memory.

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Women account for nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease. Why they are disproportionately affected remains an important question in brain health research, and scientists at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) are investigating whether hormonal changes during menopause may hold part of the answer.

Holly Hunsberger, PhD, an assistant professor in the university's Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Therapeutics, has received a five-year, $3.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to investigate how changes in brain activity during perimenopause may contribute to Alzheimer's disease vulnerability.

Perimenopause, the transitional period leading to menopause, is marked by fluctuations in ovarian hormones, particularly estrogen, that play important roles in brain function. Some women experience little change in memory and thinking during this period, while others report more significant difficulties.

Yet scientists still do not fully understand how the menopausal transition affects the brain's neural networks or whether those changes may contribute to Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Hunsberger's research will focus on the hippocampus, a region of the brain essential to learning and memory. Her team will investigate how hormonal changes affect communication between brain cells and whether disruptions in that connection may accelerate changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.

"We aim to determine how the menopausal transition alters hippocampal cell types and neural activity and how these changes may accelerate Alzheimer's disease pathology," Dr. Hunsberger said. "We believe perimenopause represents a critical biological transition during which changes in brain circuitry may increase vulnerability to memory impairment and mood-related symptoms."

By identifying how hormonal changes may affect brain circuitry, the research could advance scientists' understanding of Alzheimer's disease vulnerability and help inform future studies of women's brain health.

"Dr. Hunsberger's innovative research addresses the critical connection between the menopausal transition and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease," said Janice Urban, PhD, RFU interim executive vice president for research. "This project will deepen our understanding of these neural changes and, ultimately, may offer new insights into strategies to treat or prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease among this large and growing population."

According to the Alzheimer's Association, women have a 1 in 5 lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer's at age 65, compared with 1 in 10 for men. Understanding the biological factors that contribute to this disparity could help researchers identify new approaches to protecting women's brain health as they age.

About Rosalind Franklin University
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is committed to serving the global population through the interprofessional education of health and biomedical professionals and the discovery of knowledge dedicated to improving wellness. Founded in Chicago in 1912, RFU embodies the spirit of inquiry and excellence modeled by its namesake Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose Photo 51 was crucial to solving the structure of DNA. Recognized for its research in the areas of neuroscience, brain-related diseases, inherited disorders, diabetes, obesity, and gait and balance, the university includes Chicago Medical School, College of Health Professions, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Learn more at rosalindfranklin.edu.

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SOURCE Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science