Brain Health in Transgender Adults
28 de mayo de 2026 actualizado por: University of Wisconsin, Madison
Cerebral Blood Flow and Neurocognitive Performance in Adults Undergoing Gender-affirming Hormone Therapy
The purpose of this study is to test whether and how a person's brain changes in the first few months after starting gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT).
The investigators want to know if GAHT changes: 1) cerebral blood flow (CBF), 2) brain structure, connectivity, and cognitive task performance, and 3) neurocognitive function (memory, attention, executive function, processing speed).
36 male at birth and 36 female at birth participants will conduct baseline studies prior to GAHT, with a second identical set of study visits 4-6 months after GAHT begins.
Descripción general del estudio
Estado
Reclutamiento
Condiciones
Intervención / Tratamiento
Descripción detallada
The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of GAHT on cerebral structure and function. To this end, this study has three aims:
Aim 1: To identify if transgender males and females demonstrate changes in
- A) basal CBF and
- B) CBF responses to acute stress-particularly in areas involved in cognition, memory, and learning.
Aim 2: To identify if transgender adults will demonstrate significant changes in:
- A) overall brain structure,
- B) functional connectivity, and
- C) task activation.
Aim 3: To identify if neurocognitive function changes in transgender adults.
The investigators hypothesize that:
- Aim 1: Transgender females will demonstrate increased basal CBF and larger CBF responses to acute stress, particularly in areas involved in cognition, memory, and learning, whereas transgender males will display lower basal CBF and lower CBF responses to acute stress.
- Aim 2: Transgender patients will demonstrate significant changes in: a) overall brain structure, b) functional connectivity, and c) task activation.
- Aim 3: Neurocognitive function will increase in transgender females and decreases in transgender males, primarily in the domains of memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed.
Tipo de estudio
De observación
Inscripción (Estimado)
72
Contactos y Ubicaciones
Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.
Estudio Contacto
- Nombre: Shawn Bolin, MS
- Número de teléfono: 608-263-6308
- Correo electrónico: sbolin@wisc.edu
Ubicaciones de estudio
-
-
Wisconsin
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Madison, Wisconsin, Estados Unidos, 53792
- Reclutamiento
- UW School of Medicine and Public Health
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-
Criterios de participación
Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.
Criterio de elegibilidad
Edades elegibles para estudiar
- Adulto
Acepta Voluntarios Saludables
Sí
Método de muestreo
Muestra no probabilística
Población de estudio
Adults (18-45 years) undergoing gender affirming hormone therapy with their clinical health care team.
Descripción
Inclusion Criteria:
- intention to undergo GAHT
Exclusion Criteria:
- BMI greater than 40 kg/m2
- Age greater than 45 yrs
- Blood pressure greater than 140/90 (stage II hypertension)
- A current diagnosis of type II diabetes
- History of traumatic brain injury/concussion, stroke, or seizures
- Are post-menopausal
- Previously taken hormone therapy medications
- Self-reported pregnancy (no pregnancy test)
Plan de estudios
Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.
¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?
Detalles de diseño
Cohortes e Intervenciones
Grupo / Cohorte |
Intervención / Tratamiento |
|---|---|
|
Male at birth undergoing GAHT with their Clinical Care Team
|
Two MRI visits (baseline and after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT) will involve structural scans of the brain, scans while performing cognitive tasks, and a scan taken while responding to an inhaled CO2 stressor.
This visit will take approximately 1.5 hours.
Otros nombres:
Two cognition and health test trials (baseline and after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT) will involve a body composition scan to determine body fat percentage, muscle mass, and bone density.
This will be followed by a set of cognitive tasks using the NIH Toolbox.
Optional graded exercise test will be performed if the participant consents to this optional procedure (baseline and after 4-6months of continuous GAHT).
to determine cardiorespiratory fitness.
This test will be performed on a cycle ergometer, with a metabolic allowing for the measurement of maximal oxygen consumption via indirect calorimetry.
|
|
Female at birth undergoing GAHT with their Clinical Care Team
|
Two MRI visits (baseline and after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT) will involve structural scans of the brain, scans while performing cognitive tasks, and a scan taken while responding to an inhaled CO2 stressor.
This visit will take approximately 1.5 hours.
Otros nombres:
Two cognition and health test trials (baseline and after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT) will involve a body composition scan to determine body fat percentage, muscle mass, and bone density.
This will be followed by a set of cognitive tasks using the NIH Toolbox.
Optional graded exercise test will be performed if the participant consents to this optional procedure (baseline and after 4-6months of continuous GAHT).
to determine cardiorespiratory fitness.
This test will be performed on a cycle ergometer, with a metabolic allowing for the measurement of maximal oxygen consumption via indirect calorimetry.
|
¿Qué mide el estudio?
Medidas de resultado primarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Change Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF)
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
CBF at rest and in response to cognitive stressors.
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baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Change in Brain Structure
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
Grey matter and White matter volumes.
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Change in Brain Connectivity
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
Measured using MRI.
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Change in Cognitive Function: Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
NIH Toolbox to assess neurocognitive function.
The Flanker test is a measure of executive function and is scored using a T-score where 100 is the average, higher scores indicate better performance.
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baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Change in Cognitive Function: Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
NIH Toolbox to assess neurocognitive function.
The Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test measures how many correct responses the participant has within 90 seconds.
There is a maximum of 130 items.
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Change in Cognitive Function: List Sorting Working Memory Test
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
NIH Toolbox to assess neurocognitive function.
The List Sorting Working Memory Test is a measure of recall and sorting.
Participants scores reflect the number of items recalled and appropriately sorted up to 28 items maximum.
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baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Change in Cognitive Function: Dimensional Change Card Sort Test
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
NIH Toolbox to assess neurocognitive function.
The Dimensional Change Card Sort Test measures accuracy: the number of accurate responses, up to a maximum of 40.
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Change in Cognitive Function: Picture Vocabulary Test
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
NIH Toolbox to assess neurocognitive function.
The Picture Vocabulary Test has the participant hear a word and then pick from one of four pictures that best represents the word.
It is scored using a T-score where 100 is the average, higher scores indicate better performance.
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
Medidas de resultado secundarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Change Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF)
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
Changes in CBF in response to inhaled mixture of room air and CO2
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Changes in sex steroid concentrations
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
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Change in Body Composition
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
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Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
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baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
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Change in Blood Glucose
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
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Glucose is a marker of metabolic health
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baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
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Change in Insulin
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
Insulin is a marker of metabolic health.
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baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Change in Cytokines
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
Cytokines are a marker of inflammation.
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
|
Optional Graded Exercise Test: VO2 Max
Periodo de tiempo: baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
An optional graded exercise test will be performed to determine cardiorespiratory fitness.
This test will be performed on a cycle ergometer, with a metabolic allowing for the measurement of maximal oxygen consumption via indirect calorimetry.
This will be a ramped exercise test, starting at a wattage of 50W and increasing in difficulty by 1 watt every 2 seconds.
The purpose of this is to begin at a low intensity and gradually increase the difficulty until exhaustion is reached.
|
baseline and up to 6 months (after 4-6 months of continuous GAHT)
|
Colaboradores e Investigadores
Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.
Patrocinador
Investigadores
- Investigador principal: William Schrage, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Fechas de registro del estudio
Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.
Fechas importantes del estudio
Inicio del estudio (Actual)
14 de octubre de 2025
Finalización primaria (Estimado)
1 de abril de 2028
Finalización del estudio (Estimado)
1 de abril de 2028
Fechas de registro del estudio
Enviado por primera vez
28 de mayo de 2026
Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
28 de mayo de 2026
Publicado por primera vez (Actual)
3 de junio de 2026
Actualizaciones de registros de estudio
Última actualización publicada (Actual)
3 de junio de 2026
Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
28 de mayo de 2026
Última verificación
1 de mayo de 2026
Más información
Términos relacionados con este estudio
Palabras clave
Términos MeSH relevantes adicionales
Otros números de identificación del estudio
- 2024-1861
- Protocol Version 1/12/26 (Otro identificador: UW Madison)
- SOE/Kinesiology (Otro identificador: UW Madison)
Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)
¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?
NO
Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio
Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.
No
Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.
No
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