About Us

Our “Why”

The current Alzheimer’s and dementia evidence base has insufficiently examined differences in epidemiology and experience for women compared to men. Women’s brain health is both understudied and underfunded compared to men’s brain health. Moreover, women are disproportionately affected by neurological conditions: almost two-thirds of people with Alzheimer’s are women, only 12% of the 2019 NIH funding went to women-focused research, and more than 3 in 5 Alzheimer’s caregivers are women. Understanding and ameliorating these disparities is imperative to establish an effective and equitable healthcare system.

The CWBH commends the many organizations and initiatives committed to women’s brain health and seeks to unite independent organizations working together on a volunteer basis towards a common goal.

Participation benefits include:

  • Generative new evidence, implementing and/or evaluating solutions, and producing other comprehensive and novel research
  • Exchanging information / knowledge sharing
  • Amplifying and celebrating research, advocacy, and policy achievements of members
  • Reducing duplicative efforts and increasing efficiency
  • Fostering relationships within the women’s brain health research & advocacy communities.
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Nearly 19% of women Alzheimer’s caregivers had to quit work either to become a caregiver or because their caregiving duties became too burdensome.
(Source: Alzheimer’s Association, 2024)

Composition of CWBH

Founding Members

Diana Slowiejko, PharmD, PhD​

Principal Medical Scientific Director, Neurology & Neuro Rare Diseases​

​Genentech​

Sandy Gleysteen

Director of Strategic Partnership & Special Projects

WAM at Cleveland Clinic

  1. Communicates project vision
  2. Provides strategic direction
  3. Secures & stewards resources
  4. Supports Steering Committee
  5. Drives stakeholder engagement
  6. Accountable for coalition’s success & sustainability
  7. Approves CWBH outputs

Steering Committee

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  1. Advises Leadership Team and  Work Groups
  2. Provides subject matter expertise
  3. Contributes to critical project decisions
  4. Provides guidance and expertise to  stakeholders
  5. Supports dissemination efforts
  6. Facilitates introductions with key opinion  leaders and other stakeholders
  7. Reviews CWBH outputs

Work Groups

  1. Directs tactical efforts with support from Avalere & Founding Members
  2. Responsible for success metrics for tactics

Avalere Health

Naila Wahid, MS

Principal

Avalere Health

Shayna Adams, MPH

Consultant

Avalere Health

Alexandra Bryan, MPH

Senior Associate

Avalere Health

  1. Leads content development
  2. Accountable for dissemination of CWBH outputs
  3. Facilitates tactical efforts and is accountable for success metrics
  4. Manages internal and external communications