In 1909, the Socialist Party of America celebrated National Women’s Day in New York City. A few years later several European Countries celebrated the first International Women’s Day. The United Nations observed the day for the first time in 1975. Following a California school district’s decision to observe women’s history week, President Carter declared a National Women’s History Week in 1980. In 1987, Congress passed a bill designating March as Women’s History Month.  

Early in the 20th century, a scientist observed a unique slice of brain tissue under a microscope. The specimen was from the autopsy of his former patient, a woman who initially presented with memory issues, paranoia, and aggression. She continued to decline until she passed away in 1906. The scientist’s name was Dr. Alois Alzheimer; the disease soon became known as Alzheimer’s disease. 

In the years that followed, research on Alzheimer’s disease was sparse. The little-known disease was believed to be untreatable. It was not until the 1970s that Alzheimer’s Disease finally started to receive recognition. Concerned family members and caregivers formed the Alzheimer’s Association in 1980.  

The connection between women and Alzheimer’s disease is deeper than a shared timeline. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, two out of every three dementia caregivers is a woman. One out of every three caregivers is a woman taking care of one of her parents. On average, women spend more time than men on caregiving related tasks. For many women caregiving is an unpaid labor of love. At least 60% of unpaid caregivers are women. One in five women caring for someone with Alzheimer’s reports having to quit her job to focus on caregiving. 

Women are not only more likely to be caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s, but they are also more likely to experience it firsthand. Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as men. Explanations provided by the Alzheimer’s Association include women’s longer lifespan, hormonal differences, differences in educational attainment, social and cultural factors, and the interaction of genetic risk factors and gender.  

Women's History Month is a time for women to share their stories, and for many women that story includes a connection to Alzheimer’s disease: either living with it firsthand, caring for a loved one with a diagnosis, or dedicating their career to it. Throughout Women's History Month, let us honor those women who have faced this disease head on, such as Actress Rita Hayworth and Basketball Coach Pat Summit by daring to imagine a future without Alzheimer’s. Let us honor those women who provided care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease and felt empowered to do more, such as comedian Lauren Miller and former first Lady of California Maria Shriver, launching non-profits to raise awareness and fund crucial research. Finally, let us honor women like Harvard Medical Professor Dr. Reisa Sperling and Johns Hopkins Director of the Division of Cognitive Neuroscience Dr. Marilyn Albert who have dedicated their lives to advancing research and conducting clinical trials.  

The road to women’s rights was not always clear. So too, the race to a cure has not been an easy path. As of 2022, women were still only earning 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. The race for women’s rights and the race for a cure started at the beginning of the 20th century. Let’s have the audacity to envision a world beyond both finish lines.