A Resource for Those Interested
in Women’s Brain Health.

Our Mission

The Coalition for Women’s Brain Health is a group of organizations and individuals promoting women’s brain health and addressing the disproportionate burden of neurological disease on women through a focus on research, advocacy, and collaboration.

Learn More About Us

Featured Resources

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June 2, 2026

| Research on Sex Differences

Brain and Cognitive Health at Midlife

In this article published in Menopause, Coalition for Women’s Brain Health (CWBH) Steering Committee member Dr. Jessica Caldwell explores common cognitive symptoms experienced during midlife and the menopause transition, including the often-reported experience of “brain fog.” The article examines the role of hormonal changes, sleep, stress, caregiving responsibilities, and other factors that can affect cognitive health, while providing evidence-based guidance for supporting brain health during midlife and beyond.

This resource highlights the importance of understanding how life-stage transitions can influence women’s brain health and reinforces the need for continued research, education, and awareness in this area.

 

Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

| Jessica Zoe Kirkland Caldwell, PhD, ABPP/CN

May 8, 2026

| Access to Care and Care Delivery Models

State of Women’s Health Report 2026

The State of Women’s Health Report from Cleveland Clinic, led by the Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center with leadership from Maria Shriver and Dr. Beri Ridgeway, highlights persistent gaps in awareness, access, and research across key areas of women’s health. Drawing on national survey data, the report reveals that many women are unaware of their risks for serious conditions and face ongoing barriers to preventive care and timely diagnosis.

The findings underscore the importance of sex-specific care and greater investment in conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women—including those impacting brain health, such as Alzheimer’s disease, where women represent nearly two-thirds of cases.

Cleveland Clinic, Women's Comprehensive Health and Research Center

| Cleveland Clinic, Women's Comprehensive Health and Research Center

July 1, 2020

| Access to Care and Care Delivery Models

It’s Time to Act: The Challenges of Alzheimer’s and Dementia for Women

Released by AARP in May 2020, It’s Time to Act is a seminal call to action to confront the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s and related dementias on women. Informed by the July 2019 convening of global experts and enriched by partner insights, the report introduced a 5-step roadmap to eliminate stigma, empower women to protect their brain health, ensure inclusive research, support caregivers, and strengthen medical training. This work directly inspired the formation of a steering committee, which ultimately gave rise to the Coalition for Women’s Brain Health to drive this mission forward.

AARP, Women's Alzheimer's Movement

| AARP, Women's Alzheimer's Movement

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Vision & Objectives

Our vision is to ensure women have access to cognitive health resources and to empower women to actively invest in their cognitive well-being.

We will achieve this by advancing women’s brain health through research & evidence generation; implementation projects (e.g., toolkits, care delivery models); and advanced treatment options.

Three "Pillars" of Interest

Our efforts to address our goals stated above are organized into the following three priority areas:

1

Research on
Sex Differences

Current or future research focused on sex differences related to women’s brain health.

Patient and Caregiver Burden and Support

2

Caregiving responsibilities and the entities that impact caregiving burden and support.

Access to Care and Care Delivery Models

3

Care delivery models addressing women’s brain health and women’s ability to seek brain-related care compared to men.

0 %

Approximately ~8-10% of NIH funding is allocated to research focused specifically on women.

Your Feedback Counts

We’re gathering feedback to better advance women’s brain health research and collaboration. Your input helps shape our priorities. Please take a moment to answer these 4 questions.

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CWBH Origins

Genentech, AARP and the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) at Cleveland Clinic established a Steering Committee comprised of healthcare leaders and experts from government agencies, professional organizations, health systems, and research institutions. This Steering Committee was developed in part to advance efforts originally spearheaded by WAM at Cleveland Clinic. In 2019, WAM at Cleveland Clinic convened experts to assess the state of research on women’s brain health. Following the meeting came a detailed roadmap for outlining a 5-Point Strategic Plan to address disparities:
  1. Eliminate the stigma of dementia
  2. Empower women to promote their own brain health
  3. Invest in research that is inclusive
  4. Enhance support for family caregivers
  5. Improve training for care providers.
These served as the foundation for the Coalition for Women’s Brain Health (CWBH). On December 5, 2023, the Steering Committee convened to identify gaps, explore potential solutions, and align on actionable next steps related to these focus areas. The Committee used the meeting to brainstorm solutions for each of the issue areas, focusing on opportunities in research, education, communications, and policy.
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Over 60% of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers in the United States are women.

(Source: Alzheimer’s Association, 2024)

Latest News

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July 1, 2026

Mind Matters: Women’s Brain Health Unveiled — A Conversation with Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD: Part 2 of 2

Interviews

June 15, 2026

Mind Matters: Women’s Brain Health Unveiled — A Conversation with Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD: Part 1 of 2

Interviews

June 2, 2026

NEW RESOURCE: Brain Health at Midlife: New Insights from CWBH Steering Committee Member Dr. Jessica Caldwell

Research

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Your Feedback Counts

Your Feedback Counts

We’re gathering feedback to better advance women’s brain health research and collaboration. Your input helps shape our priorities. Please take a moment to answer these 4 questions.

Step 1 of 4
1. How did you hear about the Coalition for Women’s Brain Health (CWBH)?