Women's Brain Health Initiative

Women's Brain Health Initiative Raising funds for research and education to combat women's brain aging diseases. Because our grey matter, matters.

Women’s Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) helps protect women’s brain health by focusing its resources on research to combat brain-aging disorders that disproportionately affect women, and by creating compelling preventative health education programs, grounded in science, so there is a greater understanding by the public of the best ways to prolong their cognitive vitality. Our Six Pillars of Brain Health are the most important lifestyle choices that protect your brain health as you age.

The science of dementia prevention continues to evolve, bringing new insights into the many factors that may influence h...
10/06/2026

The science of dementia prevention continues to evolve, bringing new insights into the many factors that may influence how our brains age, including important differences between women and men.

At Women’s Brain Health Initiative, we follow the latest science and make it accessible, relevant and actionable, with a particular focus on what the research means for women.

These 7 findings are helping to change the conversation around dementia risk and prevention, and reinforcing why understanding s*x and gender differences in brain health matters.

The more we understand about what shapes our risk, the better equipped we are to act on the factors within our control.

10/03/2026

Hot flashes are often treated as an uncomfortable but temporary part of menopause. But emerging research is challenging us to think about them differently.

What happens during the menopause transition may offer important clues about a woman’s brain health, reinforcing why symptoms should be taken seriously, studied more deeply, and discussed openly with healthcare providers.

Dr. Pauline Maki explains why hot flashes may tell us more than we once realized about what is happening in the brain.

Another reason women deserve better answers about menopause and brain health.

When should we start thinking about healthy brain aging? Earlier than many of us might think.New research suggests that ...
10/01/2026

When should we start thinking about healthy brain aging? Earlier than many of us might think.

New research suggests that the pace at which our bodies are aging in our 40s may be linked to everyday memory problems a decade later. Researchers found that among adults aged 40–49, faster epigenetic aging was associated with more prospective memory lapses later in life, such as forgetting something you intended to do, as well as greater disruption from those lapses.

The findings don’t mean that faster biological aging causes memory decline, and they don’t predict who will develop dementia. But they add to a growing body of evidence pointing to midlife as an important window for protecting our future cognitive health.

Brain health is a lifelong journey. The earlier we pay attention to it, the more opportunity we may have to influence how we age.

Study: Jang H, Holmberg JC, Nicholson JS, et al. Linking epigenetic age acceleration to self-reported daily memory lapses: evidence from the National Study of Daily Experiences. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. Published August 17, 2026.

09/22/2026

What happens when the memories that tell us who we are begin to disappear?

In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day, we’re sharing Marcia Gay Harden’s reflections on the heartbreak of watching her mother lose the memories that connected her to her life, her family, and ultimately, to herself.

“Memory validates our very existence.”

Our memories carry our stories. They connect us to the people we love, the lives we have lived, and the generations that come after us.

Today, we honour those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and the families and caregivers who experience these losses alongside them.

And we hold onto hope for a future where greater awareness, more research, and a stronger focus on prevention can change the story for generations to come.

Share Marcia’s words today. The more we talk about Alzheimer’s, the more we can raise awareness, challenge stigma, and remind those affected that they are not alone.

Memory loss? It might be sleep apnea.Most people picture snoring and gasping for air. But in women, sleep apnea often lo...
09/12/2026

Memory loss? It might be sleep apnea.

Most people picture snoring and gasping for air. But in women, sleep apnea often looks different: fatigue, anxiety, low mood. That difference in presentation is one reason women are diagnosed at roughly half the rate men are, even though the condition can affect the brain regions that govern mood and decision-making even more profoundly in women.

The stakes go beyond a groggy morning. Researchers following thousands of adults found that those with sleep-disordered breathing developed signs of mild cognitive impairment, including memory lapses, years earlier on average than those without it. One theory: deep sleep is when the brain clears amyloid, the protein tied to Alzheimer’s. Constant waking from apnea cuts that process short.

The encouraging part: treatment works. People who used a CPAP machine to keep their airway open developed cognitive impairment at the same rate as people who never had sleep apnea at all.

If mornings never feel restful no matter how long you slept, it’s worth asking your doctor about a sleep study.

08/27/2026

Caregiving can take an enormous toll, especially when caregivers believe they have to carry it all on their own.

At our recent Women’s Brain Health Summit, Emma Heming Willis shared a powerful lesson from her caregiving journey with her husband, Bruce Willis: asking for help is not a failure. It is part of sustaining yourself for the journey ahead.

Raised by a fiercely independent single mother, Emma learned early to keep going and handle things herself. But as a care partner, she came to understand that protecting her own health had to be part of caring for Bruce.

Her message is one every caregiver deserves to hear: You are allowed to raise your hand. You are allowed to ask for help. And caring for yourself matters, too.
�You're not alone. Check the link in the comments for free caregiving tools, guides, and support.

Every day, more than 414 people in Canada are diagnosed with dementia, more than 17 every hour. About 10 of those are wo...
08/25/2026

Every day, more than 414 people in Canada are diagnosed with dementia, more than 17 every hour. About 10 of those are women every hour.

Researchers followed more than 12,000 people for over two decades and found that adults who kept normal blood pressure, stayed diabetes-free, and didn’t smoke in their 40s, 50s, and 60s gained close to 13 extra years of life without dementia, compared to those with all three risk factors.

The more risk factors present in midlife, the fewer dementia-free years people could expect. The takeaway from the study: much of dementia risk is preventable, and midlife is not too late to make a difference.

Sources: Neurology, Alzheimer Society of Canada (dementia prevalence and daily/hourly diagnosis rate, as of Jan. 2025) and Landmark Study Report #2 (female share of dementia cases, 2020 data, projected to hold through 2050). The hourly breakdown by s*x is our own calculation applying the female share to the overall diagnosis rate, not a figure published directly by the Society.

For too long, medicine assumed that what we learned from men could simply be applied to women. We now know that isn’t al...
08/20/2026

For too long, medicine assumed that what we learned from men could simply be applied to women. We now know that isn’t always the case.

The same condition can develop differently, present differently and even be detected differently in women. Heart attack symptoms may be less readily recognized. Women tend to experience strokes at older ages and can face poorer outcomes. And in Alzheimer’s disease, women’s stronger performance on some verbal memory tests may mask early cognitive changes, potentially delaying diagnosis.

These differences aren’t minor. Recognizing them can change when a woman is diagnosed, how she is treated and ultimately, her health outcomes.

Research is beginning to give us a clearer picture, but significant gaps remain. Women need to be adequately represented in research, and s*x and gender differences need to be analyzed rather than averaged away.

Because women are not small men. Better research on women leads to better healthcare for women.

Women's health has been overlooked for far too long.Despite making up half the population, women have historically been ...
07/28/2026

Women's health has been overlooked for far too long.

Despite making up half the population, women have historically been underrepresented in medical research, leaving critical gaps in our understanding of how diseases develop, present, and respond to treatment.

The consequences for brain health are profound.
Nearly 70% of people living with Alzheimer's disease are women, yet only a small proportion of neuroscience and psychiatry research specifically examines s*x and gender differences. We cannot solve a problem we have not adequately studied.

While awareness of the women's health gap is growing, awareness alone is not enough. Recognition must be matched by meaningful investment in research that reflects women's unique biology, including the effects of menopause, hormones, pregnancy, and other life stages on brain health.

Every year we delay, millions more women and their families bear the consequences.

Closing the women's health gap is not simply about equity. It is essential to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, to protect the brain health of future generations.

Because you can't treat what you don't study.

Check the link in the comments to read the full article.

😴 Feeling sleepier than usual during the day? It may be worth paying attention.A growing body of research suggests that ...
07/18/2026

😴 Feeling sleepier than usual during the day? It may be worth paying attention.

A growing body of research suggests that a persistent increase in daytime sleepiness, especially in older adults, may be more than a normal part of aging.

In a five-year study published in Neurology, researchers followed 733 women in their 80s using wearable sleep monitors. Women whose daytime sleepiness increased over time were about twice as likely to develop dementia as those whose sleep patterns remained stable.

The important takeaway? This study found an association, not proof that daytime sleepiness causes dementia. Researchers believe that increasing sleepiness may reflect changes already occurring in the brain, years before memory symptoms become noticeable.

Occasional fatigue or an afternoon nap is normal. But if you or someone you love has become noticeably sleepier during the day, it’s worth discussing with a healthcare provider. Many treatable conditions, including sleep apnea, medication side effects, and depression, can also contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness.

Protecting your brain starts with paying attention to the signals your body is sending.

Source: Li J, et al. Neurology. 2025. “Trajectory of sleep-wake activity and incident dementia in older women.”

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