Funding outcome

Menopause occurs when a woman's menstrual periods permanently stop, usually around age 50, causing hormone levels like estrogen to drop. These hormonal shifts lead to changes in how the body processes fats, sugars, and other key molecules, leading to weight gain which ultimately is strongly associated with increased risks for cancer and cardiovascular disease. This project focuses on using cutting-edge chemical analysis instruments, called mass spectrometers, to measure how menopause and various environmental exposures changes the chemicals in the blood of menopausal women. This will allow us to see how these changes increase the risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, and various cancers that disproportionally affect post-menopausal women. Specifically, we will analyze blood samples from a large number of menopausal women at different stages of menopause, with and without disease. This will involve measuring nearly 1,800 different molecules involved in metabolism, diet, chemical exposures, lifestyle, and gut bacterial activity. This large-scale chemical profiling will reveal detailed patterns of change that happen during, and after menopause as well as during and after developing menopausal-related diseases. This will give us a precise picture of how diet, environment, and gut bacteria influence the metabolic shifts, providing a comprehensive view of menopause's impact on health. Our goal is to identify early metabolic signs that predict which women are at higher risk of developing menopause-driven diseases. These findings will help doctors develop preventative protocols, prophylactic treatments, and lifestyle recommendations, that may prevent or significantly delay the onset of these illnesses. The results could also guide new health policies to better support menopausal women, ultimately improving their long-term health and quality of life.