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Investigating the Impact of Sex Hormones in Multiple Sclerosis

NCT07081594 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 14

Last updated 2026-03-20

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Emerging evidence indicates that females with MS experience worsened symptoms during the luteal phase (post ovulation) of the menstrual cycle when progesterone levels rise and estradiol fluctuate. The rapid hormonal swings may disrupt hypothalamic regulation, leading to an increase in body temperature - a well-established trigger for MS symptom exacerbation. These hormonal changes could also affect neuromuscular function, as estradiol and progesterone receptors are present in the nervous system and skeletal muscles.

Three critical aspects of motor rehabilitation are corticospinal excitability, motor learning, and fatigability. Previous research indicates that corticospinal excitability and the capacity to learn fine motor tasks fluctuate across menstrual cycles, indicating hormonal influences on neuroplasticity. However, it remains unclear how these hormonal fluctuations specifically affect corticospinal excitability, motor learning, and motor fatigability in females with MS. Understanding these relationships could significantly improve rehabilitation approaches. For example, pre-menopause females with MS may experience a more optimal state for neuroplasticity during the follicular phase of their cycles, therefore providing a potential window for greater rehabilitation efficacy.

Conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Milap Sandhu

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Milap Sandhu, PT, PhD · Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-08-28
Primary Completion
2027-03-31
Completion
2029-03-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

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 NCT07081594 on ClinicalTrials.gov