In recent years, the concept of brain capital has emerged as a pivotal framework for understanding the intersections of economic productivity, health, and societal well-being. Brain capital broadly refers to the aggregation of brain skills and brain health that collectively fuel innovation, learning, and adaptive capacity within populations. However, despite the critical importance of this domain, there remains a glaring disparity in the investment prioritization of brain health between genders, with women’s brain health notably underfunded and understudied at a global scale. The ramifications of this oversight are profound, extending beyond individual health outcomes to influence educational engagement, workforce participation, and, ultimately, global economic growth.
At the core of the brain capital paradigm lies the integration of social, emotional, and cognitive brain resources—key elements that together foster robust societal functionality. Women, paradoxically, shoulder a disproportionate burden of poor brain health across their lifespan. Epidemiological data highlight that women live approximately nine additional years in poor health compared to men, a figure that underscores systemic inequities and the pressing need for targeted health interventions. This extended period of morbidity not only compromises personal quality of life but also limits women’s contributions to educational attainment and labor markets, thereby diminishing the collective brain capital potential of societies worldwide.
The urgent necessity for rebalancing investment toward women’s brain health is further emphasized by the potential macroeconomic gains. Researchers propose that closing the gender gap in brain health could yield an estimated global economic boost of more than US $1 trillion in annual incremental GDP. Such transformative economic impact is predicated on enhanced productivity and innovation arising from healthier, more cognitively resilient populations of women. The argument for this investment is therefore not merely a matter of healthcare equity but an economic imperative that can drive sustainable growth and societal advancement.
Scientifically, women’s brain health presents unique challenges and opportunities due to biological and socio-cultural factors that influence neurological development and aging. Hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause introduce complex neuroendocrine dynamics with profound effects on brain structure and function. Moreover, women exhibit sex-specific vulnerability and resilience patterns in neurodegenerative diseases, mental health disorders, and cognitive decline. These nuances call for sophisticated, gender-responsive research methodologies that transcend binary approaches to neuroscientific inquiry.
Despite the clear biological rationale and socio-economic incentive, global funding mechanisms and research agendas have historically marginalized women-centric brain health studies. Addressing this imbalance requires a recalibration not only of investment but also of policy frameworks, healthcare delivery models, and public awareness. It necessitates the collaboration of stakeholders across disciplines—including neuroscientists, economists, public health officials, and advocates—to design integrated strategies that recognize and respond to the intersectionality of gender, health, and cognition.
Incorporating a life course perspective is essential to effectively addressing women’s brain health disparities. From prenatal care to eldercare, the trajectory of brain health is shaped by cumulative exposures and experiences, including nutrition, education, psychosocial stress, and access to healthcare. Early interventions that prioritize brain development and mental health in girls and young women have long-term payoffs, shaping cognitive reserve and resilience that endure into later life. Conversely, neglecting these stages perpetuates cycles of disadvantage, constraining not only individual potential but also the realization of collective brain capital.
Advancements in neuroimaging, biomarker identification, and precision medicine technologies offer promising avenues to elucidate sex-differences in brain aging and pathology. For example, emerging evidence demonstrates distinct patterns in how Alzheimer’s disease manifests and progresses in women compared to men, implicating differential gene expression, immune responses, and vascular factors. Leveraging these insights requires an intentional focus on sex-disaggregated data and the development of therapeutic interventions tailored to women’s neurobiology.
From a socio-economic vantage point, enabling women’s full participation in educational and occupational domains is contingent upon mitigating brain health burdens that disproportionately affect them. Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, which disproportionately impact women globally, tend to reduce cognitive function and productivity. Addressing mental health through comprehensive brain capital strategies could reduce disease burden and enhance workforce effectiveness. Additionally, promoting brain health equity aligns with global gender equality goals, reinforcing human rights while fostering economic inclusiveness.
Brain capital also encompasses the social dimension of cognitive health, emphasizing the role of emotional intelligence, social cognition, and relational capacities in navigating complex societal challenges. Women’s roles as caregivers, community leaders, and educators underscore the importance of fostering these dimensions of brain capital. Yet, societal stressors—including gender-based violence, discrimination, and socio-economic inequities—exacerbate vulnerabilities that undermine brain health. Multi-sectoral policies that tackle these upstream determinants are therefore critical in closing the women’s brain health gap.
Crucially, closing the women’s brain health gap is not solely an individual health or economic issue but one of global societal resilience and sustainability. A future where women’s brain capital is fully realized would manifest as communities with enhanced adaptive capacities, innovation potential, and emotional well-being. This vision calls for epistemic humility and inclusivity in research and policy, valuing diverse knowledge systems and lived experiences in shaping brain health agendas.
As the global population ages and cognitive demands of modern economies escalate, investing in brain capital becomes synonymous with investing in human capital. Women, representing over half of the world’s population, must be central to this investment. Equitable allocation of resources toward sex- and gender-specific brain health research, prevention programs, and clinical care is a prerequisite for harnessing the full spectrum of human cognitive potential.
In conclusion, the emerging discourse on brain capital urgently necessitates a paradigm shift that places women’s brain health at its core. Bridging this gap is not only an ethical and social justice pursuit but a strategic pathway for unleashing vast economic potential and enhancing community well-being globally. The scientific community, policymakers, and advocates alike must mobilize to develop integrated, gender-responsive brain health frameworks that nurture brain capital across the lifespan. Only then can the promise of a wealthier, healthier society become a tangible reality.
Subject of Research: Women’s brain health and its impact on brain capital and global economy
Article Title: Women’s brain health and brain capital
Article References:
Castro-Aldrete, L., Greenfield, M., Smith, E. et al. Women’s brain health and brain capital. Nat. Mental Health 3, 488–497 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00406-6
Image Credits: AI Generated
