About

JoAnn E Manson, MD, MPH, DrPH, is a Professor of Medicine and the Michael and Lee Bell Professor of Women’s Health at Harvard Medical School. She also serves as a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and is the Chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Manson is a physician epidemiologist and endocrinologist whose primary research interests include randomized clinical prevention trials of nutritional and lifestyle factors related to heart disease, diabetes, and other age-related disorders, as well as the role of endogenous and exogenous estrogens as determinants of chronic disease. She has contributed significantly to the field through her leadership in numerous research studies, including the Women’s Health Initiative Clinical Center in Boston, the cardiovascular component of the Nurses’ Health Study, the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL), the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), and the VItamin D for COVID-19 (VIVID) trial. Dr. Manson has published more than 1,200 articles, authored or edited several books and textbooks, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Clinical Trials. She has received numerous honors, including awards from the American Heart Association, election to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, membership in the Association of American Physicians, and fellowship in AAAS. She is recognized as one of the most highly cited researchers in the world and was featured in the National Library of Medicine’s exhibition, History of American Women Physicians.

Research topics

• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Biology
• Genetics
• Physical therapy
• Environmental health
• Gerontology
• Demography
• Cardiology
• Obstetrics
• Pathology
• Evolutionary biology
• Nursing
• Nuclear medicine
• Statistics
• Bioinformatics
• Mathematics
• Family medicine
• Computational biology
• Gynecology
• Endocrinology
• Psychiatry
• Animal science
• Chemistry

Selected publications

• Mediation analysis of inflammatory biomarkers in the association between migraine and stroke among postmenopausal women: the Women’s Health Initiative

  Neuroepidemiology · 2026-04-10

  article

  INTRODUCTION: The mechanisms linking migraine to stroke are unclear. Systemic inflammation may contribute, but the mediating role of inflammatory biomarkers is unknown. We evaluated whether systemic inflammatory biomarkers mediate the migraine-stroke association in postmenopausal women. Methods We analyzed data from 147,730 postmenopausal women without baseline stroke in the Women's Health Initiative, a large U.S. prospective cohort of clinical trials and an observational study. Baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP; n = 43,754), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α; n = 10,610), and interleukin-6 (IL-6; n = 19,637) were assessed as potential mediators. Stabilized inverse probability weighting addressed biomarker subsampling. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate associations of migraine history and stroke and of quartile-categorized biomarkers and stroke, linear regression models to estimate associations between migraine history and log-transformed biomarkers, and spline-based Cox models assessed stroke risk across continuous biomarker levels. Results Migraine history was associated with increased risks of total stroke (adjusted HR [aHR]: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02-1.19) and ischemic stroke (aHR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05-1.25), but not hemorrhagic stroke. Higher CRP and IL-6 levels were consistently related to increased total and ischemic stroke risks. Compared with the lowest quartile (Q1, log-transformed), aHRs (95% CIs) for total stroke across Q2-Q4 were 1.11 (1.00-1.22), 1.18 (1.07-1.30), and 1.50 (1.35-1.65) for CRP, and 2.23 (1.87-2.65), 2.63 (2.22-3.12), and 2.31 (1.94-2.76) for IL-6. In contrast, TNF-α showed a different pattern, with an elevated risk at moderate levels and attenuation at higher concentrations. None of the biomarkers were associated with hemorrhagic stroke. No significant associations were observed between migraine history and any of the three biomarkers. The estimated indirect effects of migraine on ischemic stroke through CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 were small and not statistically significant (all p > 0.05). The proportions mediated were 0.65% for CRP, -2.82% for TNF-α, and 3.98% for IL-6, indicating minimal contribution of these biomarkers to the migraine-stroke association. Conclusion Inflammatory biomarkers did not serve as a mediator in the relationship between migraine and stroke in postmenopausal women, suggesting that the association is likely driven by other biological pathways.

  PublisherDOI

• Protein Biomarkers of Infertility Implicate Inflammation and Cell Growth/Remodeling Pathways

  JACC Advances · 2026-05-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Supplementary Table S4 from Sex-Specific Associations between Adiponectin and Leptin Signaling and Pancreatic Cancer Survival

  2025-11-26

  articleOpen access

  <p>Correlation between adipokine levels and select patient characteristics</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Plasma metabolomic signature of breastfeeding and risk of cardiometabolic diseases

  Nature Communications · 2025-12-08

  articleOpen access

  Breastfeeding is inversely associated with cardiometabolic disease incidence in prospective studies; however, the metabolic pathways underlying these associations remain largely unknown. Here, we derive a plasma metabolomic score of lifetime total duration of breastfeeding using elastic net regularized regression in Nurses’ Health Studies (n = 4349) and replicate in the Women’s Health Initiative (n = 2088). Data include 181 untargeted plasma metabolites profiled by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry using blood samples collected in mid-life, and self-reported lifetime total duration of breastfeeding. We then examine the associations between the metabolite-based breastfeeding score and risk of T2D and CVD using multivariable Cox regression models and replicated in two external cohorts. The metabolite-based breastfeeding score comprised of 5 metabolites (i.e., C54:2 triglyceride, C56:2 triglyceride, C56:3 triglyceride, cotinine, indole-3-propionate), which show a modest but statistically significant correlation with lifetime total duration of breastfeeding. The metabolite-based breastfeeding score significantly inversely associate with T2D incidence (HR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.71-0.82) and with CVD incidence (HR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.84-0.93) independent of T2D and CVD risk factors. We identify plasma metabolite profiles in mid-life associated with breastfeeding duration, which is also linked to CVD and T2D risk. Breastfeeding is inversely associated with cardiometabolic disease; however, the metabolic pathways underlying these associations remain largely unknown. Here, the authors show plasma metabolite profiles in mid-life associated with breastfeeding duration, which is also linked to CVD and T2D risk.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplementary Figure S2 from Sex-Specific Associations between Adiponectin and Leptin Signaling and Pancreatic Cancer Survival

  2025-11-26

  articleOpen access

  <p>Association between adiponectin levels and pancreatic cancer mortality using spline regression.</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Long-Term Effect of Multivitamin Supplementation on Incident Self-Reported Hypertension and Blood Pressure Changes in the COSMOS Trial

  American Journal of Hypertension · 2025-11-12 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Multivitamin-multimineral (MVM) supplements have been associated with lower blood pressure (BP) in several small trials. We investigated the effects of a MVM on incident hypertension and BP in a secondary analysis of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). METHODS: COSMOS is a 2×2 factorial, double-blinded RCT testing effects of cocoa extract and MVM supplementation among women aged ≥65 years and men aged ≥60 years. Among 8905 COSMOS participants free from hypertension, effects of MVM supplementation on incident hypertension were investigated. Hypertension diagnosis was ascertained through self-reports. Additionally, in two substudies with BP measurements (N = 529 at clinic by research staff and 994 at home by technician), we evaluated the effects on 2-year BP changes. RESULTS: Incident hypertension was observed in N = 1034 (22.9%) in MVM arm and N = 1039 (23.6%) in placebo arm over a median of 3.4 years (IQR: 3.0, 3.9) of follow-up, with hazard ratio (HR) 0.98 [95% CI: 0.90, 1.06]. Effects differed according to baseline diet quality, with HRs of incident hypertension 0.81 [0.70, 0.95] and 1.14 [1.01, 1.28] among participants with lower and higher Alternate Mediterranean Diet score, respectively (P-interaction = .001). There was no effect of MVM on 2-year changes in systolic BP (4.4 mmHg in MVM; 4.5 mmHg in placebo), while pronounced effects were observed for baseline normal BP (P-interaction = .004). CONCLUSIONS: MVM supplementation versus placebo did not reduce hypertension incidence or lower BP overall. Exploratory analyses showed greater reduction in hypertension risk and BP changes among those with lower dietary quality and normal BP at baseline, respectively. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02422745.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplementary table 2 from Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer among Nonsmokers and Nondrinkers of Alcohol in the Women’s Health Initiative

  2025-11-03

  articleOpen access

  <p>Association between the study exposures and the risk of pancreatic cancer excluding women with less than 2 years of follow-up</p>

  PublisherDOI

• Supplementary Table S3 from Sex-Specific Associations between Adiponectin and Leptin Signaling and Pancreatic Cancer Survival

  2025-11-26

  articleOpen access

  <p>Association between SNPs in the leptin receptor gene and pancreatic cancer mortality by sex</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Epigenetic clocks and longitudinal plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease

  Alzheimer s & Dementia · 2025-12-01 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: Chronological age is the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). However, the association of accelerated biological aging relative to chronological age with ADRD pathology is unclear. METHODS: In a cohort of 2366 (873 with longitudinal data) cognitively unimpaired older women, we examined associations of seven baseline measures of epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) and pace of aging with 15-year changes in plasma ADRD biomarkers. RESULTS: At baseline, higher AgeAccelHorvath and AgeAccelPheno were associated with lower amyloid beta (Aβ) 42 to Aβ40 (Aβ42:Aβ40) ratio, and higher AgeAccelGrim2, PCPhenoAge, and PCGrimAge were associated with elevated neurofilament light (NfL). Longitudinally, higher baseline DunedinPACE - capturing the pace of biological aging - was associated with faster increases in tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p-tau181), p-tau217, NfL, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) over 15 years. DISCUSSION: Accelerated biological aging, particularly DunedinPACE, was associated with increasing levels of plasma ADRD biomarkers over time. HIGHLIGHTS: We studied 2366 older women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. AgeAccelHorvath and AgeAccelPheno were linked to lower plasma Aβ42:Aβ40 at baseline. AgeAccelGrim2, PCPhenoAge, and PCGrimAge were linked to higher plasma NfL at baseline. DunedinPACE was associated with faster increases in p-tau181, p-tau217, NfL, and GFAP.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplementary Figure S1 from Sex-Specific Associations between Adiponectin and Leptin Signaling and Pancreatic Cancer Survival

  2025-11-26

  articleOpen access

  <p>Association between leptin levels and pancreatic cancer mortality using spline regression.</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant N01WH032109

  NIH · $11.1M · 2005

• NIH Grant R01DK058845

  NIH · $7.8M · 2016

• NIH Grant R01DK046519

  NIH · $694k · 2000

• RISK FACTORS FOR CVD IN WOMEN

  NIH · $16.4M · 1984–2028

• NIH Grant R01HL046959

  NIH · $7.6M · 2007

Frequent coauthors

• Rowan T. Chlebowski

  IST Research

  7067 shared

• Garnet L. Anderson

  6275 shared

• Ross L. Prentice

  5558 shared

• Andrea Z. LaCroix

  University of California, San Diego

  5553 shared

• Mara Z. Vitolins

  Wake Forest University

  5541 shared

• Lewis H. Kuller

  University of Pittsburgh

  5538 shared

• Sylvia Wassertheil‐Smoller

  5531 shared

• Judith Hsia

  University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

  5351 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Nutrition

  Harvard University

  1980

• M.S., Nutrition

  University of Massachusetts

  1976

• B.S., Nutrition

  University of Massachusetts

  1973

Awards & honors

• American Heart Association’s (AHA) Population Research Prize
• AHA’s Distinguished Scientist Award
• AHA’s Research Achievement Award
• election to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academ…
• membership in the Association of American Physicians (AAP)