Washington DC, July 10, 2026 — HealthyWomen today announced the launch of the Brain Health Coalition, a cross-sector initiative bringing together the voices of employers, health systems, medical associations, research institutions, community organizations, and patients to address one of the most pressing but underaddressed challenges in American health: the failure to treat Alzheimer’s disease as a routine part of midlife care.
Brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease can begin decades before a single symptom appears. Midlife is the most important period for intervention, yet it is still the most systematically neglected. This coalition was created to change that.
“Brain health has been treated as an issue to worry about later, when the evidence becomes clear that the time to act is decades past,” said Beth Battaglino, CEO of HealthyWomen. “We are convening this coalition because the relationships, reach, and urgency all point to the present: building the infrastructure for change for sectors, communities, and all Americans.”
The Brain Health Coalition’s connectivity infrastructure is designed to coordinate existing efforts, expand reach, and bridge coordination gaps that prevent siled progress from achieving scale. Its membership consists of all stakeholders with real influence on the outcome. These include employers making employee health decisions, clinicians setting screening criteria, insurers determining what is covered, researchers building the evidence base, and community organizations reaching those most at risk.
The Coalition operates on three pillars simultaneously: awareness, education and policy. Because one pillar cannot be sustained without the other. This integrated structure enables lasting and meaningful impact.
The coalition is guided by a founding steering committee that includes the Alzheimer’s Association, National Health Council (NHC), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), with support from founding strategic partners including Eli Lilly & Company.
“We know that brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease can begin decades before a single symptom appears, and midlife is a critical window to take action,” said Katie Evans, Chief Program and Mission Engagement Officer at the Alzheimer’s Association. “We are proud to work with HealthyWomen and our fellow coalition members to build a cross-sector infrastructure that will help support a future where early screening is as routine as blood pressure or cholesterol screening.”
HealthyWomen has maintained nearly 40 years of trusted relationships with patients, clinicians, policymakers, and the broader health ecosystem to support these efforts. Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women, who also bear most of the burden of caregiving. These realities, from biological hazards to equity gaps to lived experiences, shape the coalition’s design and make HealthyWomen the right chair for a coalition built to serve all Americans.
To learn more, visit BrainHealthCoalition.org.
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 by providing objective, fact-based information so they can make informed health decisions. 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.
