HealthyWomen launched the Brain Health Coalition, bringing together the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Health Council, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and founding strategic partner Eli Lilly & Company to advance Alzheimer’s awareness, early detection, and policies that expand care access.
Disproportionately affected, women account for nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases in the US, yet opportunities for interventions—particularly during midlife—are often missed. While 90% of women are interested in Alzheimer’s testing, only 9% have discussed cognitive health with their providers.
“Brain health has been treated as something to worry about later in life, when the evidence is clear that the time to act is decades earlier,” said HealthyWomen CEO Beth Battaglino. “We are convening this coalition because the relationships, the reach, and the urgency all point to now. This is about building the infrastructure for change — across sectors, across communities and for every American.”
With nearly 13 million Americans projected to be living with Alzheimer’s by 2050 and costs expected to reach $1 trillion, the coalition aims to make cognitive screening a routine part of care. By promoting standardized screening and earlier intervention, it hopes to address the 92% of cognitive decline cases currently missed in primary care and improve long-term outcomes.
