Not Yet RecruitingEarly Phase 1

Acute Effects of Estradiol Administration on Brain Function During Fear Learning

30 participantsStarted 2026-08

Plain-language summary

The goal of current study is to better understand how fear is processed in the brain and how these processes are influenced by cognition and hormones. This research will focus specifically on postmenopausal female adults, because age-related changes in cognition and declining estrogen levels may contribute to anxiety symptoms and PTSD risk later in life.

Who can participate

Age range

60 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * post-menopausal * normal or corrected-to-normal vision * English speaking * stable medication use (no changes in the past three months) Exclusion Criteria: * use of hormone therapy containing synthetic estrogen * MRI contraindications (e.g., irremovable ferrous metal in body, claustrophobia) * history of neurological disorder (including mild cognitive impairment) or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury * use of antipsychotic, opiate, or mood stabilizer (i.e., lithium) medication * history of blood clots/deep vein thrombosis, prior stroke or TIA, uncontrolled hypertension * history of migraine with aura * severe liver disease * history of breast, endometrial, or ovarian cancer * smoking \>10 cigarettes/day

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Neural Response to Fear Conditioning Task

Timeframe: single visit, approximately 4 hours after taking study drug

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07737613

SponsorUniversity of Arizona

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-08

Contact for this trial

Nancy Huynh

520-333-5482 nxhuynh@arizona.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More PTSD and Trauma-related Symptoms trials