Funded projects

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  Dr Rosemary Brown

  University of Otago

  

  Dr Jenny Clarkson

  University of Otago

  Project grant - $272,851 - Funding Round: 2025 B

  The menopausal mind: Estrogen’s role in rewiring reward circuits

  The transition to menopause, known as perimenopause, can bring a wide range of debilitating neurological symptoms in up to three-quarters of women. Among the most significant are depression and anxiety, yet how this happens remains poorly understood. The team have identified a key hormone, called estradiol, that declines during perimenopause. When estradiol levels drop, the brain may rewire, leading to mood disorders. Using a mouse model, this study will explore how and where estradiol acts in the brain and whether replacing it during perimenopause can restore normal brain function.