A. Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Aging

Dr. Henderson’s research interests include risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, risk factors for cognitive decline during normal aging, and therapeutic strategies to maintain and improve cognitive abilities during aging and dementia.  His current research includes trials for the treatment of dementia in people with Alzheimer’s disease and for the improvement of cognitive decline in older people without dementia.  Dr. Henderson directs the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC).  The ADRCs, located at leading universities across the nation, are congressionally mandated Centers of Excellence funded by the National Institutes of Health.

B. Women’s Health and Cognition

Dr. Henderson’s research interests are the prevention and treatment of age-related cognitive decline and dementia.  A major focus of these interests occurs in the context of adult women’s health and the population health sciences.  He is past president of the North American Menopause Society and past general secretary for the International Menopause Society.  In these roles, his goal was to help advance information, education, and research on women’s health in midlife and beyond, bringing to bear expertise in epidemiology, cognitive aging, and brain disorders.

C. Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials

Multicenter study of naloxone in Alzheimer's disease
This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial assessed cognitive effects of intravenously administered naloxone hydrochloride in people with Alzheimer’s disease.  Funding:  Mather foundation.  Primary trial results are published at doi: 10.1002/ana.410250413.

Women’s Isoflavone Soy Health (WISH) trial
This randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 350 healthy postmenopausal women examined cognitive effects of daily isoflavone-rich soy protein supplements administered over a 2.5 year period.  Findings provided Class I evidence that long-term dietary supplementation with isoflavone-rich soy protein does not improve global cognition of healthy postmenopausal women.  In specified secondary analyses, supplementation improved visual memory but did not improve verbal memory or executive functions.  Funding: NIH AT001653, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00118846.  Primary trial results are published at PMID: 22665144.

ELITE: Early versus Late Intervention Trial with Estradiol (ELITE)
This randomized clinical trial examined cognitive effects of oral estradiol compared to placebo in healthy postmenopausal women in two strata: early postmenopause (within 6 years of menopause) or late postmenopause (more than 10 years after menopause).  Funding: NIH AG024154, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 00114517.  Primary trial results are published at PMID: 27421538, PMID: 27028912, and PMID: 24277815.

Raloxifene for women with Alzheimer's disease
This was a multisite randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of raloxifene for the treatment of women with Alzheimer's disease. Funding: NIH AG0230038, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00368459.  Primary trial results are published at PMID: 26537053.

ACE-Seniors (Activities for Cognitive Enhancement of Seniors)
ACE-Seniors was a randomized controlled trail to assess effects of several innovative activities on remediation of age-related cognitive decline in healthy older adults. Funding: NIH AG034639, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 01094509.