Research
Funding
MakesAdvancements in Women鈥檚 Health Possible
The Study of Women鈥檚 Health Across the Nation (SWAN) follows more than 3,300 women in the United States to learn how mid-life experiences affect health and quality of life during aging.
Pitt researcher Maria Mori Brooks is the principal investigator of the SWAN coordinating center, located in Pittsburgh.
She has an integral role in determining how each site collects data and how it is analyzed.
Researchers use the collected SWAN data to depict the changes that happen during the menopause transition, such as the development of hot flashes and poor sleep patterns. They use that information to evaluate the risk factors and consequences of mid-life health outcomes, which include cardiovascular and bone health, as well as physical and cognitive function.
SWAN aims to help women know what changes during menopause and aging are typical and what changes may benefit from interventions, with the goal of improving women鈥檚 health.