The Women's Alzheimer's Movement at Cleveland Clinic
Alzheimer’s disease may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to women’s health. But women are at an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease as well as other neurological disorders. That’s why the partnership between the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM), founded by Maria Shriver, and Cleveland Clinic was established.
WAM at Cleveland Clinic focuses on further addressing and reducing the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders.
It’s goal? To advance gender-based research, treatment, disease prevention and education for brain health.
Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease Through a Risk Reduction Program
Built on peer-reviewed science indicating that up to 40% of all Alzheimer’s disease cases might be preventable through risk-reduction strategies, The WAM Prevention Center at Cleveland Clinic, led by Jessica Caldwell, PhD, is the nation’s first medical clinic for Alzheimer’s disease prevention, research and caregiving support for women and gender-diverse individuals.
The WAM Prevention Center combines the latest science on prevention with a individual’s medical history, biological risks, habits, mood and memory to create a personalized, sustainable plan for lifestyle modifications that can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Why Are Women and Gender-Diverse Individuals at Increased Risk?
It is not yet fully understood why women and gender-diverse individuals are more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease. We do know that they have some unique risk factors or can be more affected by:
- Menopause.
- Depression.
- Being less physically active.
- Having a copy of the APOE-4 allele (genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease).
- Diabetes.
More research is needed to better understand these differences — and provide hope for both prevention and treatment. Learn about ways to help prevent Alzheimer's disease.
How Can You Support This Mission?
Philanthropy is an integral part of WAM at Cleveland Clinic. Gifts support gender-based Alzheimer’s disease and neurological research, prevention and education services — and growth of The WAM Prevention Center. Give Now.
“Having helped establish the fact that women are at the epicenter of Alzheimer’s disease, we are now determined to understand why women are disproportionately impacted by this – and so many other – neurological diseases.” — Maria Shriver
“One in two women will be diagnosed with a neurological disorder in her lifetime. We are proud to collaborate with Maria Shriver and WAM to expand our efforts to understanding the link between gender and all neurodegenerative conditions.” — Tom Mihaljevic, MD
Patient Stories
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Best Friends Care for Mothers With Alzheimer’s, Raise Awareness for Women of Color
“We were eager to learn more about how to support someone with dementia, but we were also concerned we may one day get it as well, and we wanted to do what we could do to prevent that from happening.”Read More
