This study explored gender differences in willingness to participate in Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials and related procedures among 2,544 cognitively unimpaired participants from the ALFA cohort. Women made up 63% of the sample and were generally younger, less educated, more often caregivers, single, and unemployed compared to men. Overall, women were significantly less willing than men to join clinical trials and to undergo lumbar punctures. Single women, in particular, were less likely to participate than single men, and women with higher education were more hesitant to undergo invasive procedures. These findings reveal that gender and sociodemographic factors—especially marital status and education—influence research participation. The study underscores the need for more inclusive, gender-sensitive recruitment strategies to ensure balanced representation and address potential biases in AD prevention research.
Author(s):
Canals-Gispert L et al.
References including authors:
Canals-Gispert L, Cañas-Martínez A, Huesa G, Suárez-Calvet Alomà M, Milà-Alomà M, Arenaza-Urquijo E, Cirillo D, Dimech AS, Iulita MF, Martinkova JN, Tartaglia MC, Quevenco FC, Chadha AS, Sánchez-Benavides G, Minguillón C, Ferretti MT, Fauria K, Brugulat-Serrat A; ALFA Study. Impact of gender on the willingness to participate in clinical trials and undergo related procedures in individuals from an Alzheimer's prevention research cohort. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2024 Dec 19;16(1):263. doi: 10.1186/s13195-024-01626-1. PMID: 39702338; PMCID: PMC11661028.