Neurobiology of the Menopausal Transition

更年期过渡是一个重要的生命过程，对认知和 女性的心理健康。激素治疗的绝经后神经成像研究表明 雌激素水平对大脑神经回路有显著影响。然而，对生物多样性的机械研究 目前尚缺乏更年期转变的神经生物学研究。这一建议结合了来自 以及接触到独特的、特征良好的更年期妇女群体， 神经心理测试和最先进的神经成像技术，以表征神经生物学 更年期的过渡。以检验有关更年期认知和发育机制的假说 情感变化，我们将从具有良好特征的中年女性群体中招募 曾参与一项涉及广泛激素和周期监测的骨骼健康和新陈代谢研究 从1992年开始。新兵将是年龄在40岁到55岁之间的女性，分成代表绝经前的小组， 以促卵泡作用定义的围绝经期早期、围绝经期晚期和自然绝经后 荷尔蒙水平和月经出血模式。这一合作将涉及广泛的 神经心理测试结合有效的功能磁共振(FMRI)成像 确定女性在认知和情绪任务中大脑激活模式的范例 面板。具体目标包括：1.确定更年期的特定阶段或特征 转变与大脑功能的改变有关，表现为fMRI-BOLD激活 在认知和情绪任务期间或通过神经心理测试。2.划定相对贡献 卵巢老化与脑功能时序老化的关系 在认知和情绪任务期间或通过神经心理测试。3.证明认知能力 处理fMRI上记录的更改-粗体显示在可观察到的更改之前、同时发生或之后 神经心理测试。这些研究将确定荷尔蒙和衰老对 认知和情绪处理的变化。更好地了解大脑的区域和顺序 处理变化将允许卫生界计划最有效地保存 女性的认知和情绪健康。

The menopausal transition is an important life process, significantly impacting the cognitive and psychological health of women. Postmenopausal neuroimaging studies of hormone therapy indicate that estrogen levels have signficant effects on brain neural circuitry. However, mechanistic studies of the neurobiology of the menopausal transition are lacking. This proposal combines the rich historical data from and access to a uniquely well-characterized population of women, transitioning the menopause, with neuropsychological testing and state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques, to characterize the neurobiology of the menopausal transition. To test hypotheses concerning mechanisms of menopausal cognitive and affective changes, we will recruit from a well-characterizedpopulation of women at the mid-life who have been participants in a bone health and metabolism study involving extensive hormone and cycle monitoring since 1992. Recruits will be women aged 40-55 years, stratified into panels representing premenopause, early perimenopause, late perimenopause and natural postmenopause defined by follicle-stimulating hormone levels and menstrual bleeding patterns. This collaboration will involve extensive neuropsychological testing combined with a validated functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) imaging paradigm to determine brain activation patterns during cognitive and emotional tasks among women of each panel. The Specific Aims include: 1. Identify if specific stages or characteristics of the menopausal transition are associated with alterations in brain functioning as manifested either by fMRI-BOLD activation during cognitive and emotional tasks or by neuropsychological testing. 2. Delineate the relative contribution of ovarian aging vs chronological aging in brain functioning as manifested either by fMRI-BOLDactivation during cognitive and emotional tasks or by neuropsychological testing. 3. Demonstrate whether cognitive processing changes noted on fMRI-BOLD precede, occur concurrent, or follow observable changes in neuropsychological testing. These studies will determine the contributions of hormones and aging to changes in cognitive and emotional processing. A better understanding of the areas and sequence of brain processing changes will allow the health community to plan interventions which most effectively preserve cognitive and emotional health for women.