Ms Najwa-joelle Metri1, Dr Rocco Cavaleri1,2, Dr Ghufran Alhassani2, A/Prof Carolyn Ee1, Dr Chai Lim3,4, A/Prof Heather Francis5, Mr Daniel Hochstrasser1, Ms Rose Mery Bou Merhy1, A/Prof Genevieve Steiner-Lim1,4,6
1NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, , Australia, 2Brain Stimulation and Rehabilitation (BrainStAR Lab), School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, , Australia, 3Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, , Germany, 4German Centre for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, , Germany, 5School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, , Australia, 6Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, , Germany
Biography:
I’m a PhD candidate at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, leading a clinical trial investigating the neurophysiological, cognitive, and mood effects of non-invasive brain stimulation during the menopause transition. Since 2020, I’ve held roles as a Research Assistant, Clinical Trial Coordinator, and Project Officer, developing experience in human research ethics, trial design and management, participant recruitment, data collection, and scientific writing. I have specialist training in neurophysiology (TMS and EEG), biospecimen handling, and am certified in PC2, OGTR, Good Clinical Practice, First Aid, and phlebotomy. My research focuses on scalable, non-pharmacological interventions to improve wellbeing.
Aims:
Cognitive and mood symptoms affect up to 70 % of females during the menopausal transition and are associated with reduced functioning, diminished quality of life, and increased risk of later-life cognitive decline. Evidence for targeted interventions remains limited. Emerging evidence suggests hormonal fluctuations disrupt cortical network function, particularly within prefrontal circuits supporting attention, memory, and executive function. This trial evaluates whether rapid non-invasive brain stimulation can modulate neurophysiological mechanisms to improve cognition and mood during this transition.
Methods:
This double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled pilot trial investigates intermittent-theta-burst stimulation to the left dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex in the late menopause transition and early post menopause. Participants (n = 72) receive five daily sessions of stimulation. Primary outcomes include resting state cortical activity and intracortical inhibition. Secondary outcomes include subjective and objective cognition. Exploratory outcomes include mood, sleep, quality of life, and autonomic function.
Results:
The protocol has been approved (WSU HREC H16200) and registered on ANZCTR (ACTRN12625000030471). Recruitment commenced in September 2025 and will complete by December 2026.
Conclusions:
This study targets a gap in women’s health by investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive and mood symptoms during the menopausal transition, and will inform development of targeted, non-pharmacological interventions to support female brain health.