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.

What does blood pressure have to do with your brain? More than you might think.We often talk about blood pressure in con...
08/18/2026

What does blood pressure have to do with your brain? More than you might think.

We often talk about blood pressure in connection with heart health. But the health of your blood vessels matters to your brain, too.

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, means blood is pushing too forcefully against the walls of your arteries. Over time, untreated high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and is associated with serious health complications, including stroke, cognitive impairment and dementia.

That connection is especially important when we talk about protecting brain health as we age.

Research increasingly points to cardiovascular risk factors as an important part of dementia risk reduction. That means knowing your blood pressure, along with other measures like cholesterol and blood sugar, can give you valuable information about your health today and your brain health for the future.

For women, paying attention to these numbers during midlife can be particularly important. Alzheimer’s disease risk develops over time and Cleveland Clinic identifies heart and metabolic conditions, including high blood pressure, as factors that can contribute to a woman’s risk.

The encouraging part is that blood pressure is something you can monitor and manage.

High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so you may not know you have it without having it checked. Talk with your healthcare provider about your blood pressure, what your numbers mean and what steps may be appropriate for you. Depending on your individual health, managing blood pressure may include changes to physical activity and diet, medication or treatment of other health conditions.

Taking care of your heart and blood vessels is also one way to take care of your brain.

Because brain health isn’t only something to think about later in life. The choices and conversations we have about our health today can be part of protecting it for years to come.

Sleep is not a luxury. It is essential to women’s health.Most adults are told to aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each nigh...
08/18/2026

Sleep is not a luxury. It is essential to women’s health.

Most adults are told to aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. But research suggests women may actually need slightly more sleep than men. At the same time, women are also more likely to experience sleep disruptions and poor-quality rest.

So why the difference?

Hormones play a major role. Throughout life, women experience hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. These changes can affect circadian rhythms and make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep.

Mental health also plays a role. Women are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, which are closely linked to insomnia and sleep problems. When stress and mental health challenges increase, sleep quality often decreases.

Certain sleep disorders are also more common in women. Restless legs syndrome, for example, occurs more frequently in women. Symptoms of sleep apnea can also look different in women, which can make the condition harder to recognize and diagnose.

Sleep is deeply connected to brain health. During sleep, the brain clears waste, supports memory, and restores important cognitive functions. When sleep is disrupted over time, it can affect focus, mood, and long-term brain health.

For many women balancing work, caregiving, family responsibilities and daily stress, prioritizing rest can feel impossible. But protecting sleep is one of the most important steps women can take to support their overall health.

A few ways to support better sleep:
• Keep a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends
• Limit caffeine and alcohol in the evening
• Create a cool, dark, quiet sleep environment
• Get regular physical activity and morning sunlight
• Make time to manage stress and support mental health

At WAM, we know that protecting brain health starts with everyday habits. Sleep is one of the most powerful tools we have.

Better sleep supports stronger brains, healthier lives and a brighter future for women everywhere.

Have you ever just lost your train of thought while you’re in the middle of an activity? This type of event is common as...
08/15/2026

Have you ever just lost your train of thought while you’re in the middle of an activity? This type of event is common as you get older. But if your thinking has been affected suddenly and gradually worsens so you have difficulty focusing or putting your thoughts into words, you may be experiencing what people call brain fog.

Brain fog can be a lot of things to different people. It can include any or all of the following:

-Trouble focusing.
-Difficulty staying attentive.
-Trouble remembering familiar details like names, places or words.
-Slow reaction times and information processing.
-General fatigue or lethargy.
-Cloudiness in judgment.
-Frequent loss of train of thought.

So, what’s causing the blockage of information? Well, there’s no definitive answer. Here are some common conditions associated with brain fog symptoms:

-Pregnancy.
-COVID-19.
-Depression & Anxiety.
-Chemotherapy.
-Food sensitivities.
-Blood sugar levels.
-Autoimmune conditions.

In general, there aren’t any known medications or treatments that correct brain fog directly. To immediately address most chronic stressors, focus on improving your sleep, getting good nutrition and exercising 30 minutes every day, five days a week. These small changes to your everyday life can build up over time and greatly impact your immune system response and reduce inflammation.

If you’ve tried these methods, or you’ve experienced brain fog for some time, you should call your healthcare provider or work with an integrative medicine specialist who can help you make lifestyle changes across several areas that include diet, nutrition, sleep and exercise.

Endovascular neurosurgeon Farah Fourcand, MD, explains all the ways music impacts your brain and how it can actually hel...
08/14/2026

Endovascular neurosurgeon Farah Fourcand, MD, explains all the ways music impacts your brain and how it can actually help heal your brain, too.

Music impacts nearly every part of your brain, including:

-Your limbic system, which contains your hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus. When activated, this area of your brain helps regulate your emotional response to music.
-Your cerebral cortex (or gray matter) houses your motor cortex, which, when activated, this area triggers your body to dance and move to the rhythm of music.

Music activates parts of your brain that help:

-Preserve and improve memory
-Enhance creativity
-Improve attention, focus and concentration
-Decrease reaction time
-Improve spatial reasoning (the ability to mentally visualize or imagine 2D and 3D objects)
-Promote brain development in children and adults

Music also has many physical benefits. It can:

-Decrease cortisol levels
-Lower heart rate and blood pressure
-Motivate your body to move
-Create new neural connections and increase neuroplasticity

Performing music has its own benefits, too. It can help:

-Improve hand-eye coordination
-Develop motor skills
-Promote brain connectivity and enhance cognitive potential

You may want to explore different musical genres or test out what kind of music works best for you. There may also be times when silence is needed. But at the end of the day, music will always be there to inspire you and bring a little rhythm to your life.

“Music brings people together,” says Dr. Fourcand. “So much of what we do when we celebrate life is centered around music and dance.”

Respite care is a short-term service that allows you to take a break from your usual routine of daily care as a primary ...
08/12/2026

Respite care is a short-term service that allows you to take a break from your usual routine of daily care as a primary caregiver. The break may last for a few hours or several days or weeks.

During this time, someone else — typically a trained professional or a trusted friend or loved one — takes on your caregiving duties. This might involve helping with medications, fixing meals or simply providing companionship. Respite care helps people who are caring for adults and children of all ages, including those with medical needs.

Why is respite care important?

Respite care can help you juggle many responsibilities while still making sure your loved one receives the care they need. But it’s also a way to restore your energy, do something relaxing or simply have some alone time.

Caregivers often feel guilty taking a break when it doesn’t seem absolutely necessary. But research shows that breaks from regular caregiving are, in fact, necessary (even if you don’t have anything else on your calendar). Having some time to yourself helps you avoid caregiver burnout. This state of exhaustion can affect any caregiver no matter their level of dedication or determination. Respite care helps caregivers provide better care by improving focus, energy and motivation.

Brain health isn’t just something to think about later in life.Midlife can be an important window for taking action to s...
08/11/2026

Brain health isn’t just something to think about later in life.

Midlife can be an important window for taking action to support your brain health and address factors linked to dementia risk. Cleveland Clinic defines this period in its Alzheimer’s disease risk-reduction program as roughly ages 30 to 65.

Why does this time matter? Many factors that can affect long-term brain health may emerge or become more important during these years. They include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression and chronic stress, sleep problems, hearing loss, smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity and menopause-related hormonal changes.

While some risk factors, such as genetics, can’t be changed, others can be addressed. Cleveland Clinic’s Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center looks at each woman’s medical history, biological risks, habits, mood and memory to develop a personalized plan focused on reducing risk.

And there’s reason to pay attention now: Peer-reviewed research suggests that up to 45% of Alzheimer’s disease cases globally may be preventable through risk reduction.

That doesn’t mean Alzheimer’s disease is fully preventable. It means there are opportunities to take action on the factors we can change or manage.

Brain health is lifelong health. Midlife is an important time to know your risks, talk with your healthcare provider and make choices that can support your brain for the years ahead.

Robert joined Cleveland Clinic’s Brain Study to help others. He never expected it would reveal multiple sclerosis.Encour...
08/10/2026

Robert joined Cleveland Clinic’s Brain Study to help others. He never expected it would reveal multiple sclerosis.

Encouraged by his sister Margaret, Robert Wetzler enrolled in the Brain Study, a long-term research study working to identify, prevent and treat brain diseases before symptoms appear.

An MRI completed as part of the study showed findings that suggested multiple sclerosis or MS, which doctors later confirmed through follow-up testing. At 53 years old, Robert had no clinical symptoms and never expected the study would uncover something about his own health. Doctors told him the condition might not otherwise have been detected for another seven to 10 years.

According to epilepsy neurologist Dr. Imad Najm, who leads the Brain Study, Robert’s experience reflects one of the study’s key goals.

“We have a crisis with respect to brain disease,” says Dr. Najm. “Brain diseases in general, and particularly neurodegenerative diseases, express themselves clinically when it’s usually far too late to do anything about it. Our hope is to identify disease earlier and ultimately find better ways to treat and prevent it.”
Supported by philanthropic funding, they enrolled their first volunteer in the Brain Study in January 2022. They’re now approaching 5,000 participants. Researchers hope to eventually enroll 20,000 volunteers.

Adults age 50 and older with no known neurological disorder, as well as neurologically healthy adults age 20 and older who have a parent or sibling diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, are eligible to participate.

After his diagnosis, Robert began treatment through the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis. He receives ocrelizumab infusions, administered every six months, and takes daily oral medication.

“Diagnosing multiple sclerosis before clinical onset may be the best opportunity to initiate disease modifying medication and prevent long-term effects of multiple sclerosis,” says neurologist Dr. Daniel Ontaneda

“You could be helping yourself and others,” Robert says. “And something in your data may help researchers find a path to a cure, a little way of doing something good for people.”

How much do you really know about menopause?According to Cleveland Clinic’s State of Women’s Health Report, 42% of women...
08/09/2026

How much do you really know about menopause?

According to Cleveland Clinic’s State of Women’s Health Report, 42% of women don’t realize menopause can impact more than reproductive health.

Even half of women of menopause age aren’t aware of its widespread health impacts.

Menopause remains one of the most misunderstood transitions in women’s health, a reality underscored by widespread knowledge gaps and a perceived lack of conversation around this life stage.

In fact, 52% of women say menopause isn’t discussed enough, pointing to the need for earlier, more actionable information.

The report findings were shared during the Global Women’s Health + WAM Forum, where clinicians, researchers and advocates from across the country gathered to discuss what these insights mean for women nationwide.

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