The Women Inflammation and Tau Study (WITS)
About this collection
- Extent
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2 digital objects.
- Cite This Work
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Banks, Sarah J.; Sundermann, Erin E. (2026). The Women Inflammation and Tau Study (WITS). UC San Diego Library Digital Collections. https://doi.org/10.6075/J0F47Q40
- Description
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The Women: Inflammation and Tau Study (WITS) at University of California San Diego is a two-year research study focused on understanding why women are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Women make up about two-thirds of Alzheimer's cases and often experience more pronounced brain changes, and WITS is working to better understand why.
This study looks at how biological and lifestyle factors like inflammation, sleep, and physical activity may influence changes in the brain, including the buildup of tau protein. Women ages 65–80 take part in brain imaging, cognitive testing, and health monitoring using tools like MRI scans, tau PET imaging, and wearable devices. Participants also receive personalized health information along the way, including test results and brain images.
Supported by the National Institute on Aging, WITS aims to identify factors that could help improve early detection and prevention of Alzheimer's- especially for women. - Date Collected
- 2020 to present
- Date Issued
- 2026
- Co Principal Investigators
- Funding
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WITS is supported by funding from the California Department of Public Health, Chronic Disease Control Branch, Alzheimer's Disease Program (19-10613), the National Institute on Aging (R01 AG080663), and The Cure Alzheimer's Foundation.
- Topics
- Identifier
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Identifier: Erin E. Sundermann: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5821-8035
Identifier: Sarah J. Banks: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6156-0605
