With over 7 million Americans age 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease and the disease remaining as the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and over, every new discovery matters. Among those studying the disease is Amanda Leisgang Osse, an assistant professor of neurodegenerative clinical trials research in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine's Department of Brain Health, whose interest in the study of Alzheimer’s disease stems from the experiences of her loved ones.
“I have always had a passion for science, especially biology and chemistry, but once I was introduced to psychology, I became fascinated by the brain and how it shapes who we are,” Osse says. “My family has a history of Alzheimer’s disease, and I have seen firsthand how it affects not only those diagnosed but also their loved ones. Witnessing how this disease slowly steals memories and identity inspired me to combine my interests and strengths to make a difference through Alzheimer’s research. Over time, that drive grew into an interest in how Alzheimer’s affects women, an area that is often overlooked in research but critical to developing better treatments.”
And now, she is able to further pursue her research interests with the assistance of a prestigious grant: the Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship for All (AARFA). Awarded to Osse when she was a postdoctoral researcher within the school of medicine, the AARFA aims to support early career researchers engaged in post-graduate work across the full spectrum of scientific topics.
“Receiving the AARFA is an incredible honor and a deeply meaningful milestone in my research journey,” she says. “The Alzheimer’s Association has long been a driving force in advancing science and supporting early-career investigators, and I’m truly grateful to be part of that mission.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, almost two-thirds of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are women. Because of this, Osse will mainly be investigating how women and reproductive health are being considered in clinical trials. “There are typically more women who are enrolled in Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials, however, many trials do not consider questions such as: Are they menopausal? Are they going through the transition into menopause?” states Osse. “Hormones play a big role in the brain, and it's important to consider the status of women and reproductive health when we are looking at investigating new Alzheimer’s treatments.”
“We are proud to support Dr. Osse’s research, which is vital to the more than 12 million American women either living with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s dementia or providing care for someone with dementia,” says Heather M. Snyder, senior vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer's Association. “Studies like Dr. Osse’s are a high priority for our funding programs. To better understand the causes of disease, develop tools for early and accurate diagnosis and develop therapies for all, we must factor in the role of menopause and reproductive health in the underlying biology of these diseases.”
By analyzing clinical trial data, Osse will be determining how participants are being recruited into these trials and whether the outcomes of these clinical trials are being looked at through a sex-specific lens.
“Women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease, yet their health is often overlooked in clinical trials, and data are rarely stratified by sex,” she says. “Recognizing these gaps motivates my work as we may be missing crucial insights about how Alzheimer’s affects women differently.”
Dr. Osse aims to highlight the importance of women’s health, especially in regard to Alzheimer’s disease. “Because Alzheimer's disease primarily affects women we need to make sure that we are evaluating what makes them at greater risk later in life. It's important for us to develop better treatments for patients — along with better, more accurate diagnosis,” she says. “Understanding the similarities and differences between men and women, we will be able to advance treatment and diagnosis for all patients … This would allow us to diagnose it earlier, begin treatment earlier, and hopefully slow down or prevent the disease.”
To Osse, being selected — through a rigorous, peer-reviewed, and multi-stage process — as a recipient of the AARFA means more than just funding. “It validates the importance of studying women’s health in Alzheimer’s disease,” she says. “This fellowship gives me the chance to bring women’s health to the forefront of Alzheimer’s research. I feel deeply grateful and inspired to advance this work, knowing it could help with the development and understanding of more personalized therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.”
