MedTrace Logo

Estradiol and Brain Age

NCT06773429 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 32

Last updated 2025-01-30

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The ovarian hormone estradiol (E2) is suspected to have a neuroprotective effect on the brain. Further, it is associated with mental health and brain plasticity, function and connectivity. During the menstrual cycle, women experience fluctuation of E2. This is closely associate with neuroplasticity in regions with high estradiol receptor density, such as the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus, or the striatum. In the current study we are interested on the effects of E2 on the brain age, indicated by the comparison between the chronological age and the predicted brain age. In a double-blind within-subject study design, naturally cycling females during their follicular menstrual cycle phase (when their endogenous ovarian hormone levels are low) were either administered estradiol valerate (E2) or a placebo (PLAC) to rapidly increase E2 levels independent of other cycling ovarian hormones. Structural brain scans were assessed.

Conditions

  • Estradiol (E2) Vs. Placebo (PLAC)
  • Estradiol

Interventions

DRUG

E2 Valerate

To experimentally elevate E2 levels females received 6mg of E2 valerate (Progynova21©) on two consecutive days (in total 12mg).

DRUG

Placebo

Placebo pills (blue-colored hard gelatine capsules filled with a mixture of 99.5% mannitol and 0.5% Aerosil (fumed silica)) have been administered for the placebo-controlled condition.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Hospital Tübingen

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • DFG - Deutsche Forschungs Gemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • Mini Research Training Group (MRTG)

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • International Research Training Group 2804

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Birgit Derntl, Prof. · Departement of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

Eligibility

Min Age
19 Years
Max Age
32 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2018-08-01
Primary Completion
2019-07-31
Completion
2019-07-31

Countries

  • Germany

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Drugs

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06773429 on ClinicalTrials.gov