Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Research Scholarships - Master's program

Most women reach menopause during midlife—a period when the brain undergoes significant hormonal and neural changes. At the same time, research shows that the earliest biological signs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can also appear during this stage. Because women make up nearly two-thirds of AD cases, understanding what happens in the brain around menopause is essential for identifying who may be at higher risk long before symptoms develop. This project focuses on midlife women with and without a family history of AD. Using data from the Brain Health at Midlife and Menopause (BHAMM) study, it will examine how executive abilities, such as flexible thinking and problem-solving, relate to the structure of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—a region that supports these skills and is sensitive to hormonal change. Executive function will be measured using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and MRI will be used to assess DLPFC volume and structure. The goal is to determine whether women with a family history of AD show early differences in executive ability or brain structure before any clinical symptoms appear. By combining cognitive testing with MRI, this study aims to identify early patterns of vulnerability that might otherwise go unnoticed and support earlier, sex-informed approaches to brain health, helping to develop strategies that protect cognitive functioning as women age.