The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM

The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM “Women are the epicenter of Alzheimer’s and I believe, in my lifetime, it will be women’s brains that defeat this mind-blowing disease” – Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver and The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement build on a powerful legacy of working to defeat this mind-blowing disease. What began as an unthinkable diagnosis of Maria’s father, Sargent Shriver in 2003, soon became a bestselling children’s book, “Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?” to help families explain this tragic loss to its youngest members. Soon after, Maria worked together with HBO to ex

ecutive produce the Emmy award winning series “The Alzheimer’s Project”. In 2009, Maria testified in front of the Senate Committee on Aging alongside Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Newt Gingrich and helped pass the Alzheimer’s Project Plan. Then 2010, Maria produced The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Takes on Alzheimer’s in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. This Report reported for the first time the disproportionate impact Alzheimer’s disease has on women’s brains and women as caregivers. It was a game changer in how we understood the disease and those in impacted. Later that year, thousands of women joined Maria for her March to End Alzheimer’s in California. Maria Shriver and The Shriver Report inspired the Alzheimer’s Association to create the first-of-its-kind Women’s Alzheimer’s Research Fund where 100% of the proceeds support women’s brain research. Understanding the power of mainstream media to reach millions of people, Maria built Tales of Alzheimer’s and Caregiving on Mariashriver.com, a vibrant online community for those dealing with Alzheimer’s and looking for a place to share their stories. In 2014, Maria Shriver served executive producer of Sony Classic Picture’s “Still Alice” and used that moment to talk about the misperception that this is just a disease that affects an aging populations. The film soared from start-up, independent film to box-office hit and garnered an Academy Award. Motivated by the success of Still Alice and other films, to reach a mainstream audience, Maria launched a global movement of women, Maria Shriver’s Wipe Out Alzheimer’s Challenge, with the Association in 2015. After proudly launching the Women’s Alzheimer’s Research Fund, Maria realized the true challenge would be to partner with organizations to create similar funds and continue to mobilize a global community of empowered women. From a tragic diagnosis to a bold challenge, our twelve-year legacy propels us to the future.

06/18/2026

6 years! 🎉

The Women’s Alzheimer’s Prevention and Research Center is the first medical clinic in the nation to offer a women-specific center for Alzheimer’s disease prevention, research and caregiving support. , founder of WAM at Cleveland Clinic, is the visionary behind The Women’s Alzheimer’s Prevention Center, which is located within Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Nev.

“We know that two out of three brains that develop Alzheimer’s belong to women, but we don’t know why. Given there is no cure for this devastating disease, prevention is our best hope to reduce the physical, social and financial hardships brought on by Alzheimer’s to families around the world, especially in communities of color, where the risk for Alzheimer’s is sometimes double that for whites,” said Maria Shriver.

Thank you to all involved in making this center the success it has become and will continue to be!

💜 June is Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month.More than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, ...
06/17/2026

💜 June is Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month.

More than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause.

This month is a reminder that while age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, there are steps we can take to support brain health throughout our lives.

At WAM, we’re committed to advancing research, education and awareness while empowering people to make informed choices about their cognitive health.

Whether it’s staying physically active, eating a healthy diet, prioritizing sleep, managing cardiovascular health or staying socially connected, small lifestyle choices can have a lasting impact.

Together, we can raise awareness, support caregivers, advance research and work toward a future without Alzheimer’s disease.

💜 Join us in recognizing Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month by sharing one thing you do to support your brain health.

Your heart does more than keep your blood pressure in check ❤️ It helps power your brain, too.Every beat sends oxygen-ri...
06/17/2026

Your heart does more than keep your blood pressure in check ❤️ It helps power your brain, too.

Every beat sends oxygen-rich blood where it’s needed most, including to your brain. When your heart is strong, your mind stays sharper, more focused and better protected over time.

But when heart health declines? High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can raise the risk of stroke, memory loss and dementia.

The empowering part: small daily habits make a big difference.

💪 Move your body
🥦 Fill your plate with color
📉 Know your numbers
💤 Make sleep non-negotiable
🧘‍♀️ Manage stress in healthy ways

Healthy heart. Clear mind.
The choices you make today build resilience for tomorrow.

Women face unique risk factors when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, including genes we can’t change (like APOE‑4) and l...
06/15/2026

Women face unique risk factors when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, including genes we can’t change (like APOE‑4) and life phases like menopause. But the fight’s not over. Research shows that while genetics and family history matter, up to 40‑45% of Alzheimer’s disease cases may be preventable through lifestyle changes.

Here’s what we can influence:
• Stay active — regular movement helps your brain build vital neural chemistry.

• Prioritize heart‑healthy habits — manage blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar through diet and exercise.

• Embrace lifelong learning — challenge your mind through education, reading, games or new skills to build “cognitive reserve”.

• Nourish your brain — follow diets like Mediterranean, DASH or MIND that support cognitive health.

• Stay socially connected — meaningful interactions keep your brain firing and protect against stress and isolation.

• Get ahead of risks — treat hearing or vision loss promptly, protect your head, use memory tools and stop smoking.

You can’t choose your genes. You can choose how you live. That’s powerful. Let’s lean into prevention, not fear. Every intentional choice, big or small, adds up.

Menopause isn’t the end of your strength.It’s the start of a new strategy.Exercise during menopause supports:✔️ Brain he...
06/14/2026

Menopause isn’t the end of your strength.
It’s the start of a new strategy.

Exercise during menopause supports:
✔️ Brain health
✔️ Heart health
✔️ Bone strength
✔️ Mood stability
✔️ Sleep quality

Movement is not just about muscles. It’s a long-term investment in how you think, feel and age.

You don’t have to do it all.
You just have to start.

Alzheimer’s disease develops over many years, often long before symptoms appear. That’s why researchers continue to focu...
06/13/2026

Alzheimer’s disease develops over many years, often long before symptoms appear. That’s why researchers continue to focus on understanding the factors that influence brain health throughout life.

Scientists and clinicians are working to uncover why Alzheimer’s disease affects people differently and how earlier awareness may help support healthier aging. For women in particular, this research is especially important, as women are disproportionately affected by the disease.

While there is still much to learn, one thing is clear: brain health is connected to overall health. The choices we make throughout our lives and the knowledge we gain through research can help shape the future of Alzheimer’s disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

The more we understand, the more empowered we are to take charge of our health and support those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease.

Alcohol is neurotoxic.It damages your brain cells. Even one drink can impair cognitive function causing slurred speech, ...
06/10/2026

Alcohol is neurotoxic.

It damages your brain cells. Even one drink can impair cognitive function causing slurred speech, blurred vision, confusion, mood swings, fatigue, poor coordination, slower reaction time and impaired memory and reasoning.

These effects increase with every additional drink. Over time, heavy alcohol use causes brain damage including shrinkage of gray and white matter, brain atrophy, dementia, strokes and memory disorders like Korsakoff syndrome and Wernicke’s encephalopathy.

Early-onset drinking (before age 14) can double the risk, with about a 50 percent chance of developing alcohol use disorder in adulthood.
But if there hasn’t been aggressive permanent damage, there can be hope, it can be reversible.

Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition, one that can cause emotional distress and physical harm.

Talk with your doctor about ways to lessen your risk of damage due to alcohol consumption.

When it comes to staying sharp as we age, there are many factors that can play a role, including what we eat.As Sandra D...
06/08/2026

When it comes to staying sharp as we age, there are many factors that can play a role, including what we eat.

As Sandra Darling, DO, who specializes in lifestyle medicine at Cleveland Clinic explains, it’s especially important to make sure we’re getting enough protein.

“Protein is one of the macronutrients that we need to maintain muscle. There’s research showing that when people consume an adequate amount of protein as we age, it can actually protect our brain health and it can slow cognitive decline that occurs naturally as we age,” said Dr. Darling.

She said protein can be found in all kinds of foods, including meat, cheese, eggs, fish, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.

So how much protein should we be eating on a daily basis?

For adults, about one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight is recommended up until the age of 65.

After that, it should be increased to 1.2 grams.

And while it may be tempting to only get your protein from foods like meat and cheese, you should look at plant-based sources too.

They contain more fiber and other vital nutrients.

“One other tip, we need to consume that amount of protein per day but specifically divided among three meals. So, people tend to increase their protein intake in the evening. For example, eating meat with dinner. But it’s better for our health and for maintaining muscle mass to divide up that total protein among three meals per day.”

Dr. Darling adds that protein bars and protein powders are okay to consume on occasion.

However, since they often contain sweeteners and other additives, it’s best to get your protein from whole foods.

The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic recognizes that women are at the epicenter of the global Alzheimer’...
06/06/2026

The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic recognizes that women are at the epicenter of the global Alzheimer’s disease epidemic and believe that cutting edge research on women’s brains is necessary to change the course of the disease.

We raise money for critical women-based research and instigate the creation of women-based initiatives at leading scientific institutions, universities, foundations and organizations.

To join the movement, sign up for our newsletter using this link: cle.clinic/WAMemail or click the link in our story.

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