According to new Harris Poll data presented by HealthyWomen at the AANP National Conference, 91% of women agree that cognitive screening should be as routine as mammography or cholesterol screening.
Red Bank, New Jersey, June 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Midlife women are ready to take action on their cognitive health. A new national survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of HealthyWomen finds that 90% of women ages 45 to 64 can take a simple blood test that can help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease early. The findings revealed a striking disconnect. While most women are open to early screening, only 9% said their health care provider has talked to them about cognitive health, and only 13% are actually familiar with FDA-approved blood tests, despite the fact that women are more likely to have the disease than men.
The findings, presented last week at the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) National Meeting, point to growing interest in early detection at a time when new tests are making early Alzheimer’s diagnosis more accessible than ever.
“For too long, the conversation about Alzheimer’s disease has been shaped by stigma and fear,” said Beth Battaglino, RN-C, CEO of HealthyWomen. “This survey tells us that women are ready and need to have different conversations with their providers. They want to be aware of their risks, understand early detection, and make informed decisions about their brain health.”
The findings highlight both urgency and opportunity. Of the women surveyed, one in three (33%) reported a family history of Alzheimer’s or dementia, and one in four (26%) said they had already noticed changes in their memory or thinking. However, awareness of risk and available testing options remain low.
- Only 50% of women feel they know their risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
- Two out of three people don’t know that women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than men.
- Only 1 in 10 people are familiar with the FDA-approved blood biomarker tests that can rule out or support a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Provider engagement is an obvious lever. 90% of women say they are more likely to get tested through a provider referral. Awareness of treatment options is also important. Two in three women say they would be more likely to get blood biomarker testing if they knew about lifestyle changes and the existence of drugs that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Resources to support these conversations already exist. For example, AANP’s Cognitive Health Point of Care Tool and AAFP Cognitive Care Kit provide providers with a practical starting point. These tools help providers assess cognitive risk, foster brain health habits, and guide patients and families through early recognition.
For more information, visit https://www.healthywomen.org/alzheimers-early-testing-survey.
Survey Methodology
The Cognitive Health Screening Survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of HealthyWomen among 2,000 women ages 45 to 64 in the United States without a diagnosed cognitive impairment. The survey was conducted from May 7 to 19, 2026. Data were weighted by age, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, employment, household income, and smoking status to reflect true population rates. Sampling precision is accurate to within ±2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
About HealthyWomen
HealthyWomen is America’s leading independent, nonprofit health information source for women. HealthyWomen.org was the first website to comprehensively address women’s health and wellness issues, and continues to educate women so they can make informed health decisions by providing objective, fact-based information. For nearly 40 years, women have come to HealthyWomen for answers to their most important health care questions. To learn more, visit www.HealthyWomen.org. Follow HealthyWomen Facebook, twitter, Instagram and linkedin.
Source: HealthyWomen
