Publication:

Exploring gender disparities among first authors in Alzheimer's disease publications: an analysis of potential underrepresentation of women

Background Gender imbalance in scientific research remains a persistent issue, with women being underrepresented in authorship positions, especially as first authors. This study aims to investigate gender disparities in Alzheimer's disease research, focusing on the representation of female first authors.

Methods An epidemiological study was conducted using data extracted from the PubMed and National Institute of Health databases, spanning 20 years (2003-2022) and focusing on Alzheimer's disease articles. The gender of the initial authors was determined using the Namsor website.

Results Of the 142 publications analysed, 141 had specified initial authors, with 77 females and 64 males. The annual number of first authors, both male and female, showed variations throughout the study period. India had the highest gender ratio (3), followed by China (2.67) and Mexico (2). Fisher's Exact Test revealed a significant association between the first author's gender and their country of origin.

Conclusions The correlation between gender and country underscores the importance of addressing cultural and institutional factors in promoting inclusivity and diversity.