Cholinergic Health After Menopause (CHAMP)

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT · Oct 14, 2019

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The CHAMP study is exploring how menopause affects brain function and the risk of Alzheimer's disease in women. Researchers want to understand why some women experience cognitive changes during menopause while others do not. They believe that changes in hormones during menopause may impact a brain system related to memory and learning, known as the cholinergic system. By studying these changes, the researchers aim to identify factors that could help predict which women might be at a higher risk for cognitive decline as they age.

To participate in this study, women aged 50 to 70 who are postmenopausal and in good health may be eligible. Participants should not be smokers or currently using certain medications, such as hormone therapy or antidepressants, and must have normal brain function as determined by specific tests. During the study, participants will undergo tests to measure their memory and brain activity, and their results will help researchers understand the connection between menopause and cognitive health. This research is significant because it could lead to personalized strategies to support brain health in women after menopause.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Women aged 50-70 years
• • Postmenopausal
• • Nonsmokers
• • Not taking hormone therapy, selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs(, phytoestrogens, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS), or antiestrogen medications and will be at least one year without such treatment
• • Physically healthy
• • No cardiovascular disease other than mild hypertension. Subjects will also not have current untreated or unremitted Axis I or II psychiatric or cognitive disorders (see screening below).
• • Intelligence quotient (IQ) in the normal range \>80
• • Normal neuropsychological test performance
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia - Montreal Cognitive Assessment \<26, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale \<130, and Global Deterioration Scale \>2
• • History of cancer treatment with cytotoxic and/or ongoing (current) maintenance targeted chemotherapy
• • Blood pressure \> 160/100 (untreated)
• • Untreated thyroid disease
• • Significant cardiovascular disease
• • Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• • Active peptic ulcer
• • Hyperthyroidism
• • Epilepsy
• • Current untreated or unremitted Axis I psychiatric disorders
• • Use of medications that are on our prohibited medications list