Dr. Marieke Gilmartin, associate professor of biomedical sciences, has been awarded a pair of grants totaling over $700,000 from the National Institutes of Health to study the neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease.
The first is an R21 grant award for $424,000 to study the influence of ovarian hormones and age on prefrontal encoding of episodic fear memories.
The second is an R03 grant award for $309,000 to study early biomarkers of cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Gilmartin says research shows women are more susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias due to the disruption and ultimate loss of ovarian hormones associated with menopause. However, the neurobiological basis is not yet known.
“Middle-age, and particularly perimenopause in women, is a time of increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and an opportunity for treatment intervention, but it is difficult to know at this stage who may or may not develop the disease,” Gilmartin says. “These grant award will address how ovarian hormones affect brain activity essential for cognition and how they interact with Alzheimer’s pathology over time. Further, we are aiming to identify early brain biomarkers of risk before symptoms emerge, providing therapeutic insight for interventional strategies in both sexes.”
Dr. William E. Cullinan, dean of the College of Health Sciences, noted that memory research such as Gilmartin’s is important in more fully understanding Alzheimer’s disease onset and how healthcare providers can use early detection to minimize effects over time
“Dr. Gilmartin’s decade-plus of research has significantly advanced our understanding of how the brain encodes memories and the factors that shape their formation and loss,” Cullinan said. “These new grants aim to enhance physicians’ ability to diagnose one of our most debilitating diseases earlier, ultimately helping patients live longer with a better quality of life.”
Both grants will run for two years and end in 2028. For more information on Gilmartin’s research, click here.
