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Exploring the complexities of dementia risk in females: role of pregnancy history and the gut-brain axis

Project Overview

Women have a higher lifetime risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), possibly due to female-specific factors like menopause and pregnancy history. For example, the number of pregnancies a woman has had may influence her brain health after menopause, but the biological reasons remain unclear. We believe gut health — shaped by the microbes in our digestive system — may help explain this link. Menopause and AD are both known to affect gut microbes, which in turn impact brain health. This study will examine whether pregnancy history affects gut and brain health in women at higher risk for AD. We will analyze stool samples, pregnancy history, thinking performance, and brain blood flow in women already enrolled in a menopause study. We will also use a fecal microbiota transplant from humans-to-rodents approach to help examine causation. This is the first study to explore how pregnancy history interacts with the gut-brain connection in women, with the goal of developing more personalized approaches to dementia prevention and care.

Principal Investigator

Cindy Barha , University of Calgary

Team Members

Raylene Reimer, University of Calgary

Partners and Donors

Alzheimer Society of Canada

Project Ongoing

Exploring the complexities of dementia risk in females: role of pregnancy history and the gut-brain axis

  • Grant Type

    Capacity building grants

  • Area of research

    Neurodegeneration

  • Disease Area

    Alzheimer’s

  • Competition

    Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP)

  • Province

    Alberta

  • Start Date

    2025

  • Total Grant Amount

    $100,000

  • Health Canada Contribution

    $50,000