New research from the Women’s Brain Foundation reveals a critical disparity in the Alzheimer’s diagnostic journey: women navigate a longer, more complex pathway than men, with significant implications for treatment outcomes and healthcare policy.
The report, “Exploring sex and gender differences in the Alzheimer’s disease patient journey: A survey study” is based on a study of 142 participants across Germany and the United States conducted by the Women’s Brain Foundation with contributions from CRA experts Angela De Martini and Tunahan Kirabali. It offers the first systematic analysis of how gender shapes healthcare navigation from symptom onset through formal diagnosis, uncovering systematic barriers that delay critical interventions during the most treatable stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Among the key findings:
- 83% of women received their Alzheimer’s diagnosis only after referral from a primary care physician, compared to 65% of men.
- Men were nearly twice as likely to receive diagnosis from the first healthcare provider they consulted.
- On average, women waited an additional two months before receiving a formal diagnosis. However, when patients bypassed referral systems and accessed specialists directly, diagnosis time was reduced by approximately half—regardless of gender. This finding isolates primary care referral as a critical bottleneck in the healthcare system that disproportionately delays diagnosis for women.
With nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s—two-thirds of them women—these findings provide important indicators for multiple professional communities that serve patients, clinicians, and the healthcare landscape at large.
Download the report to access the complete methodology, statistical analysis, and actionable recommendations for eliminating gender-based disparities in Alzheimer’s care.
