Brain blood flow differs between sexes – new study explores why
NCT ID NCT04265053
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed early-phase study looked at how sex and stress influence blood flow in the brain. Researchers gave 42 healthy young adults indomethacin (an anti-inflammatory drug) or a placebo to test whether a specific mechanism (COX signaling) explains differences between men and women. The goal is to gather knowledge that could lead to better, sex-specific treatments for brain blood vessel diseases.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Indomethacin
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward sex-specific therapies for cerebrovascular diseases like stroke.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small study in healthy young adults, so findings may not apply to older or sick populations. The drug used (indomethacin) is not being tested as a treatment here.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, United States