Menopause and Multiple Sclerosis

Li Receives Pilot Award to Study Hormone Replacement Therapy in Menopausal MS Patients

March 19 — Menopausal transition can trigger a range of physical and emotional responses in healthy women, but some studies have linked these associated hormonal changes to exacerbating symptoms in women with underlying immune system disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been used to help manage symptoms in menopausal MS patients. However, the relationship between the conditions and the effectiveness of HRT in mitigating impacts are not well understood.

University of Houston College of Pharmacy's Jieni Li, Ph.D. ('24), research assistant professor, is seeking to answer some of the questions in a study supported by a $40,000 Clinical and Translational Science Pilot Award. The fledgling Houston-based Consortium of Translational and Precision Health awarded the grant to Li, who also is a member of the UHCOP Center for Population Health Outcomes and Pharmacoepidemiology Education and Research (P-HOPER Center).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune, and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with a high prevalence in women.

Approximately 30% of patients with MS are peri- or post-menopausal females. Menopause causes hormonal changes that can affect immune function, potentially influencing the course of MS.

Preclinical studies suggest that HRT may influence the MS disease course by promoting neuroprotection and reducing inflammation. However, a substantial evidence gap exists, as previous observational studies have reported inconsistent findings due to limited sample size.

Using a population-based study approach, Li will evaluate the effectiveness of HRT in reducing MS relapses during the menopausal transition, focusing on female MS patients aged 40-64. Li's research will help support personalized MS management during the menopausal transition.

Rajender R. Aparasu, Ph.D., FAPhA, Mustafa & Sanober Lokhandwala Endowed Professor, chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes & Policy at UHCOP, and director of the P-HOPER Center, and George J. Hutton, M.D., professor and vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Neurology at Baylor, are the co-investigators on the project.

Launched in 2024, the consortium is a public-private partnership led by UH and Baylor College of Medicine and comprising a variety of health care, public health and community organizations. A major focus of the consortium is to support innovative, early-stage research and aims to catalyze high-impact projects that have the potential to translate basic discoveries into clinical applications, improve patient care, and advance personalized medicine.