By Julia DeLuca, SWHR Communications Intern
Of the 6 million Americans aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, two-thirds of them are women. To educate members of Congress and their staff on the growing Alzheimer’s disease public health crisis and its disproportionate impact on women, the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) hosted a congressional briefing, “Early Signs, Lasting Impact: Policy Pathways in Alzheimer’s Disease Detection and Care,” on May 13, 2025. The briefing included a moderated discussion featuring leading experts on the latest research, ongoing challenges, and actionable policy solutions aimed at improving outcomes for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease—with a particular focus on women, in their role as both patients and caregivers.
Julie Dumas, PhD, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont, opened the event by discussing the role of menopause in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Dumas is currently involved in the Cognitive Health After Menopause (CHAMP) study, which aims to understand biological, brain, and memory changes in women going through menopause. To treat Alzheimer’s disease brought on by menopause, physicians may use hormone therapies. According to Dr. Dumas, estrogen has proven to be highly effective in treating younger postmenopausal women and mitigating Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. For women going through menopause, “all of the symptoms are neurological,” said Dr. Dumas, highlighting how a better understanding of brain health during this natural life transition can impact Alzheimer’s disease outcomes later in life.
Diane Ty, MBA, MA, Managing Director at the Milken Institute Future of Aging, explained in her remarks that detecting and diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease early is essential. An early diagnosis allows time for patients to reduce modifiable risk factors (such as physical activity, alcohol consumption, or smoking), enroll in clinical trials, initiate advanced care planning, and seek treatment with drug therapies. However, there are barriers to accessing early detection tools, she noted. One barrier is the stigma associated with memory loss. Ty spoke about the ‘three Ds’ of stigma due to dementia—driving, dependence, and dignity—all factors that can deter people from seeking a diagnosis. Additionally, she explained how the limited capacity of primary care providers (PCPs) and the complexity of diagnostic processes can make early detection difficult. To address these limitations, Ty suggested normalizing brain health discussions, tailoring PCP training towards brain health, and integrating assessment tools into clinician workplaces to support early detection. “Brain health is women’s health,” Ty said.
Brigid Reynolds, ANP-BC, MSN, Clinic Coordinator and Nurse Practitioner at Georgetown University, discussed The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), an observational study aimed at improving Alzheimer’s disease diagnostics by providing data to researchers worldwide. To date, 6,500 publications have used data from this study and 45,000 investigators have access to ADNI. With this data, researchers have mapped out Alzheimer’s disease, tracking major abnormalities in the brain, and identified amyloid as a main driver of disease progression. Because of these studies, researchers have been able to develop medications believed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. “This research must go on so that one day we can not only significantly slow the rate of Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but, in the future, we can wipe it out all together through disease prevention,” said Reynolds.
Adding a policy perspective, Jennifer Pollack, JD, Director of Access Policy at the Alzheimer’s Association, discussed the importance of legislation and advocacy in supporting Alzheimer’s disease research and expanding care access and coverage. As blood biomarker tests begin to serve as a substitute for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, which can be inaccessible and expensive, insurance coverage for these tests can help streamline diagnostic processes.* Pollack called on health insurers to collaborate with both their beneficiaries and dementia researchers to ensure their clients have access to the latest scientific advancements – noting that people want choices in their care. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, four out of five Americans consider early diagnosis important, and nine out of 10 Americans would want a simple test to allow for early treatment. Congress has an integral role to play in this care access by supporting policies that expand coverage for Alzheimer’s disease treatment and care and fund innovative research. “Alzheimer’s is not a red or blue issue, it’s a purple issue,” said Pollack. “Alzheimer’s is not a red or blue issue, it’s a purple issue,” said Pollack.
As we move forward, SWHR and our partners continue to track the status of Alzheimer’s disease-related legislation. Among the Alzheimer’s disease legislation introduced during the 118th Congress were the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization Act (S.133, H.R.619) (signed into law), the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (S.134, H.R.620) (signed into law), and the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024 (S.3775, H.R.7218) (introduced).
Panelists also highlighted several policy opportunities in the 119th Congress for improving access to Alzheimer’s disease care and supporting caregivers. Some of which included: the Credit for Caring Act of 2025 (S.925, H.R.2036), The CHANGE Act (S.2379, H.R.3354), and the Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act (S.4276, H.R.7688).
The rise of Alzheimer’s disease and its disproportionate impact on women makes investment in research and policy solutions vital. SWHR is committed to educating people on Alzheimer’s disease and advocating for policies that support those affected by the disease. For more information, visit our Alzheimer’s Disease focus areas page and check out the latest call to action on the topic, “Transforming Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Care Through Policy”.
* On Friday, May 16, just a few days after this briefing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced marketing clearance for a blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Though this move is a notable victory in early detection, insurance coverage will remain a barrier.