Neurobiology of the Menopausal Transition

绝经过渡期是一个重要的生命过程，显著影响认知和 妇女的心理健康。绝经后激素治疗的神经影像学研究表明， 雌激素水平对脑神经回路有显著影响。然而，机械的研究， 神经生物学对更年期过渡期的研究缺乏。该提案结合了来自 和获得一个独特的良好特征的妇女人口，过渡更年期， 神经心理学测试和最先进的神经成像技术，以表征神经生物学的 更年期过渡期为了验证关于绝经期认知和心理功能障碍的机制的假设， 情感的变化，我们将招募一个良好的人口的妇女在中年谁拥有 参与了一项骨骼健康和代谢研究，涉及广泛的激素和周期监测 自1992年以来。招募的是40-55岁的女性，分为代表绝经前的小组， 早期围绝经期、晚期围绝经期和自然绝经后（由卵泡刺激定义） 激素水平和月经出血模式这一合作将涉及广泛的 神经心理学测试结合经验证的功能性磁共振成像（fMRI） 范例，以确定在认知和情感任务中的妇女， 面板具体目标包括：1.确定绝经期的具体阶段或特征 过渡与大脑功能的改变有关，表现为fMRI-BOLD激活 在认知和情感任务中或通过神经心理学测试。2.描述相对贡献 卵巢老化与大脑功能的时间老化，表现为fMRI-BOLD激活 在认知和情感任务中或通过神经心理学测试。3.证明是否认知 在fMRI-BOLD上记录的处理变化发生在可观察变化之前、同时发生或之后， 神经心理学测试这些研究将确定激素和衰老对 认知和情绪处理的变化。更好地了解大脑的区域和顺序 处理变化将使卫生界能够规划最有效地保护 认知和情绪健康的妇女。

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.