Study on Allopregnanolone and Depression in Women Across the Menopause Transition

NCT ID: NCT06238700

Last Updated: 2025-12-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-05-14

Study Completion Date

2027-08-31

Brief Summary

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This study aims to identify how enhanced allopregnanolone activity (via pregnenolone) affects behavior and neurobiology that may underlie perimenopausal depression.

Detailed Description

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Midlife women are burdened with depression risk that is at least partly attributed to changing reproductive steroid dynamics across a prolonged reproductive transition. We hypothesize that declining endogenous allopregnanolone (ALLO) levels across the menopause transition underlies perimenopausal depression. This mechanistic trial aims to amplify the contrast between lower endogenous ALLO levels in perimenopausal women and higher levels induced by pregnenolone. This will be achieved by using the over-the-counter dietary supplement, pregnenolone, in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled trial. By manipulating ALLO levels together with key measurement of depression domains, this study harnesses the endocrine biology of perimenopause to explicate behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression in women across the menopause transition.

Conditions

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Depression

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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pregnenolone

Participants will take 250mg of pregnenolone twice per day (daily total=500mg) for four weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

pregnenolone

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Pregnenolone is an endogenous steroid available in the US and elsewhere as an orally administered over-the-counter supplement.

placebo

Participants will take placebo twice per day for four weeks

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

placebo

Intervention Type OTHER

Placebo pills are identical-appearing capsules containing cellulose

Interventions

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pregnenolone

Pregnenolone is an endogenous steroid available in the US and elsewhere as an orally administered over-the-counter supplement.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

placebo

Placebo pills are identical-appearing capsules containing cellulose

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy women ages 40 to 60 years in the menopause transition
* Depressive symptoms
* Psychotropic medications are allowed if the dose is stable prior to screening and throughout the study
* Able to read Arabic numerals and perform simple arithmetic
* Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Systemic hormone therapy
* Contraindicated medications with pregnenolone
* Systemic corticosteroid
* Other psychiatric illnesses that are considered to be primary
* Current suicidal ideation
* Active substance use disorders
* Unstable medical conditions
* Obstructive sleep apnea or other primary sleep disorders
* Abnormal hepatic and renal function
* Known allergy to progesterone, exogenous allopregnanolone, or pregnenolone
* History of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness \> 20 min
* Inability to comply with barrier contraceptive methods
* Known intellectual disability
* Investigator judgement that study participation constitutes substantial risk given medical or psychiatric condition
* Current or recent participation in clinical trial expected to interfere with risk of or interpretation of study data
* Inability to comply with study procedures
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Brigham and Women's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Natalie Feldman

Psychiatrist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hadine Joffe, MD MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Katherine Burdick, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Locations

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Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Aleta Wiley, MPH

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 617-525-9627

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Aleta Wiley

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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2024P000113

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id