--- title: Does ovarian cycle stage affect Alzheimer's disease features in female mice? description: During estrogen-dominant stages of the cycle, female mice with Alzheimer's features showed worse cognitive problems and brain network dysfunction. During prog url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/ovarian-cycle-stages-modulate-alzheimer-related-cognitive-and-brain-network-2018/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does ovarian cycle stage affect Alzheimer's disease features in female mice? Lab study, 2018 # Does ovarian cycle stage affect Alzheimer's disease features in female mice? During estrogen-dominant stages of the cycle, female mice with Alzheimer's features showed worse cognitive problems and brain network dysfunction. During progesterone-dominant stages and after ovary removal, the Alzheimer's features improved. Early or limited evidence Female mice with genetic Alzheimer's disease features ## What they did Female mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer's disease features were observed during different stages of their ovarian cycle. Researchers measured brain network patterns, thinking ability, and levels of harmful proteins that accumulate in Alzheimer's disease. Some mice had their ovaries surgically removed for comparison. ## What they found Female mice spent more time in estrogen-dominant cycle stages. During these estrogen-dominant stages, mice showed worse brain network dysfunction and lower thinking scores compared to progesterone-dominant stages. Estradiol directly increased amyloid beta levels and made the brain more susceptible to seizures. Progesterone-dominant stages and removal of the ovaries improved these Alzheimer's-related problems. ## What it means for you Ovarian hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, may affect how Alzheimer's disease develops and progresses in women of reproductive age. This study was done in mice with a genetic form of Alzheimer's disease, so whether the same effects occur in humans or natural Alzheimer's disease remains unknown. More research in humans would be needed to understand if this matters for women's health. 2 cycle stage types showing different effects on Alzheimer's features ## About the study Original title Ovarian Cycle Stages Modulate Alzheimer-Related Cognitive and Brain Network Alterations in Female Mice Authors Broestl L, Worden K, Moreno AJ et al. Journal eNeuro Year 2018 Study design Lab study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0132-17.2018](https://doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0132-17.2018) Original abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins several decades before the onset of clinical symptoms, at a time when women may still undergo reproductive cycling. Whether ovarian functions alter substrates of AD pathogenesis is unknown. Here we show that ovarian cycle stages significantly modulate AD-related alterations in neural network patterns, cognitive impairments, and pathogenic protein production in the hAPP-J20 mouse model of AD. Female hAPP mice spent more time in estrogen-dominant cycle stages and these ovarian stages worsened AD-related network dysfunction and cognitive impairments. In contrast, progesterone-dominant stages and gonadectomy attenuated these AD-related deficits. Further studies revealed a direct role for estradiol in stimulating neural network excitability and susceptibility to seizures in hAPP mice and increasing amyloid beta levels. Understanding dynamic effects of the ovarian cycle on the female nervous system in disease, including AD, is of critical importance and may differ from effects on a healthy brain. The pattern of ovarian cycle effects on disease-related networks, cognition, and pathogenic protein expression may be relevant to young women at risk for AD. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Epilepsy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-epilepsy/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2026 Do brain wave patterns change across the menstrual cycle? Randomised trial, 2025 Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how much alcohol impairs women's memory? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Survey study, 2020 What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life? Randomised trial, 2019 Does online cognitive behavioral therapy help women with PMDD? Review, 2013 What treatments work best for PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗