New research grant launches comprehensive study of perimenopause and mental health
A landmark $3.7 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health is enabling Michigan State University researchers to investigate the understudied period of perimenopause and its potential impact on mental health. The study aims to uncover how hormonal fluctuations during midlife may influence conditions such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, and other mood-related symptoms—areas that have received relatively little systematic attention until now.
Meet the researchers and what makes this study unique
MSU is home to a team led by MSU Research Foundation Professor Kelly Klump, Associate Professor Katharine Thakkar, and Research Specialist Kristen Culbert. They are conducting what they describe as the first comprehensive, daily-hormone study focusing on perimenopause and its relationship to mental health outcomes. This project seeks to move beyond broad age-related assumptions and examine whether hormonal changes—not age alone—predict increased risk for psychosis in women.
“There’s a documented spike in psychosis among midlife women that isn’t observed in men, but we haven’t understood why,” said Culbert, the study’s co-principal investigator. “This research is about identifying whether perimenopausal hormonal shifts contribute to that spike.”
What makes this study different
Several features set this project apart from prior research on midlife mental health. First, the study will enroll 750 women aged 40–60 who will collect daily saliva samples and complete detailed questionnaires. This approach captures real-time hormone fluctuations and symptoms, offering a granular view of how biological changes relate to mental health trajectories over time.
Second, the researchers will examine both estradiol (an estrogen) and progesterone, instead of focusing solely on estrogen. Klump’s earlier work has shown that the interaction between estradiol and progesterone can influence various health outcomes, including mental health, during different life stages. By studying both hormones in tandem, the team hopes to better delineate risk factors for psychosis and mood disorders during perimenopause.
Why this matters for public health
Understanding how hormonal shifts influence psychological symptoms could revolutionize women’s health care during midlife. Klump emphasizes that recognizing which women are most vulnerable could lead to targeted prevention and more personalized treatments. The long-term goal is to empower clinicians with better tools to support women through perimenopause, reducing the burden of psychosis, mood disturbances, and related conditions.
“All women go through this period of life, just like with puberty, but only a subset is vulnerable to experiencing outcomes like psychosis, mood disorders and other mental health concerns,” Klump notes. “From a public health point of view, identifying these women could have a dramatic impact on their care.”
What the team hopes to achieve and what’s next
As the study progresses, researchers aim to translate findings into improved clinical practices, more personalized treatment plans, and heightened awareness about the realities of midlife for women. Culbert adds that the voices and experiences of participants have been instrumental in shaping the project and sustaining momentum for this important work. Women who want to contribute have expressed excitement about participating in research that could illuminate vital health pathways during a life transition that too often goes underrecognized.
The project is slated to continue with ongoing funding until its planned completion in early 2027. The researchers stress that sustained investment in women’s health research is essential to fueling discoveries that can benefit millions of midlife women.
