Overview
Alzheimer’s disease may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to women’s health, but women make up two-thirds of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and two-thirds of those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Research also suggests that gender-diverse people have added burden when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease.
That’s why the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic, located at Cleveland Clinic Nevada in Las Vegas, focuses on Alzheimer’s disease prevention and research for women and gender-diverse people. Care partner support also plays a big role in the center’s mission. WAM Founder Maria Shriver is the visionary behind the center, which is the first of its kind in the U.S.
We don’t yet fully understand why women and gender-diverse people may be at an increased risk. 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.
- Certain types of life stressors, like discrimination.
While Alzheimer’s disease affects all races and ethnicities, people who are Black or Hispanic also have an increased risk.
We recognize that when you’re 30 to 60 — the age range when science tells us to start preventive care — you can be pressed for time with family and career responsibilities.
Familiar challenges? At our center, we focus on you and your needs and concerns. And we’re ready to listen and help get you started on a plan.
Research suggests that up to 40% of Alzheimer’s disease cases may be preventable by lifestyle adjustments like changing habits and exercising more. While we can’t prevent 100% of Alzheimer’s disease cases, our center aims to help you learn about your risks and reduce the ones you can.
If you’re a woman or gender-diverse person between ages 30 and 60 and have a family history or genetic risk of Alzheimer’s disease, we can work with you to determine your risk and start preventive measures. Our healthcare providers have advanced training in Alzheimer’s disease and can offer personalized lifestyle recommendations. Our optional diet and exercise resources are designed to help you keep up with important lifestyle changes in the real world. Our groundbreaking center is not only a clinic, but also a site of several cutting-edge research studies open to patients.
Established in 2020, our center is powered by philanthropy. Our donors’ support allows us to provide and grow our valuable services. And it allows us to do important research.
Our goal? To keep growing our services in Nevada — and expand to other Cleveland Clinic locations in the future. We also want to be able to offer services to those 60+. Help us prevent Alzheimer’s disease, not just now, but for years to come.
What to Expect
The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic uses virtual (online) and in-person appointments for a personalized experience. We’ll take a close look at your risks and help you make sustainable lifestyle changes with an eye on Alzheimer’s disease prevention.
Online assessment
At least four weeks before your first in-person appointment, you’ll complete our online assessment. Your answers will give us a better look at your Alzheimer’s disease risks and your background. We’ll use this information to create recommendations to help you lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
In-person visits
After your online assessment, you’ll meet with us in person several times. Feel free to ask questions and share any concerns you may have at these appointments. We want you to feel comfortable and confident going forward. Here’s what you can expect your providers to do at various appointments:
- Measure your height, weight and size of your waist.
- Check your blood pressure and pulse.
- Test your memory and thinking skills.
- Ask about your medical history.
- Order bloodwork at a lab of your choice.
- Go over the results of your tests and touch base about lifestyle changes.
- Give you highly personalized recommendations on how to reduce your medical risks for Alzheimer’s disease — like diet and exercise.
Please Note: For your first in-person visit, no family or friends are permitted in the room. For all other visits, we encourage you to bring a friend or family member along to listen and help take notes.
Our Clinical Team
Jessica Caldwell, PhD, ABPP/CN
Director and Neuropsychologist
Zhi "Jenny" Baker, MPAS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Sandra Darling, DO
Wellness and Preventive Medicine
Shehroo Pudumjee, PhD
Neuropsychology
Appointments & Locations
Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic is for women who are:
- Ages 30-60
- Worried about Alzheimer’s disease due to family history or known genetic risk
- At increased risk — while Alzheimer’s disease affects women of all races and ethnicities, Black women are 2 times and Hispanic women are 1.5 times more at risk, compared to white women
- Not yet diagnosed with memory loss and not seeking a diagnosis
Ready to schedule? We’re here to help
- Request an appointment (please select the "WAM Alzheimer's Prevention" option when you see the question: "Which specialty area or department best matches your need?")
- Contact us to compare calendars and book your appointment: 833.966.3623
If you’re 60+ and would like to know when we’ll expand our age range, please complete this online form.
Once you have a confirmed appointment
Please complete all online forms no later than two weeks before your first appointment. These forms provide a health history that helps us understand your risks and your strengths. If you don’t complete these forms, we’ll need to reschedule your visit.
Cost & Insurance
A visit to our center is a billable medical appointment. Your insurance plan’s guidelines will determine your out-of-pocket costs.
You can speak with a Cleveland Clinic financial counselor if you need help preparing for a conversation with your insurance provider. To learn more, review our billing and insurance information.
Research
Patients of the Women's Alzheimer's Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic may be eligible to participate in research studies.
Our current study assesses stress, hormone levels, immune system function and brain function.
To learn more, please email us at womenpreventalz@ccf.org and put “Research Interest” in the title. You can also call the WAM Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic at 833.966.3623. We will set a time to speak with you by phone to discuss the details.
Risk Reduction Resources
Reduce medical risks
Protecting and prioritizing your medical health is a key part of reducing your Alzheimer’s disease risk. Talk with your provider about how to best prevent or treat:
- Depression.
- Diabetes.
- Excessive drinking
- Hearing loss.
- Head injury.
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- Obesity.
- Smoking/Nicotine dependence.
Challenge your brain
Studies show that finishing high school is associated with less risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Challenging your brain is also important to your brain health. While science hasn’t shown there’s one best way to do this, it has shown challenging your brain is better than just keeping it busy. A few ways to push your brain to the next level are:
- Doing challenging crossword puzzles or brain games.
- Picking up a new skill or hobby like learning a new recipe, language or instrument.
- Reading a book on a topic that’s new to you.
- Taking a different way to work or the store.
- Using your non-dominant hand (left, if you are right-handed) for daily tasks.
Avoid air pollution
Air pollution has recently been identified as an Alzheimer’s disease risk. So, it’s important to reduce your exposure to air pollution as much as possible. For example, if your city issues a warning about poor air quality, follow its guidelines about spending time outside.
Improve your mental health
You probably don’t think about your mood or psychological health playing a role in reducing your Alzheimer’s disease risk. But your mental and social health are very important. You should prioritize:
- Staying connected to friends and loved ones — and making new friends.
- Practicing mindful meditation.
- Keeping physically and mentally active.
- Treating depression.
Exercise
Exercise positively affects your health, including your brain health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week. Scientists are currently working on identifying the best types of exercise. And, while more studies are needed, high intensity interval training (HIIT) may have particularly strong benefits for keeping your brain (and memory) healthy. The benefits of exercise are cumulative (build up), so after getting approval from your doctor, start small and move daily.
Examples of higher intensity exercises include:
- Aerobics.
- Cycling.
- Hiking.
- Running.
Examples of lower intensity exercises include:
- Swimming.
- Tai Chi.
- Walking at a moderate intensity.
- Yoga and stretching.
Remember that you don’t have to have a gym membership to keep moving and exercising. There are lots of ways add movement into your daily activities like:
- Taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Walking to a nearby errand instead of driving.
- Walking or standing while on a phone call.
- Cleaning and gardening.
Adopt a healthy eating plan
Good nutrition helps both your brain and body work. Certain foods and diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, can help slow down brain degeneration and decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Foods to incorporate into your diet:
- Fruits and vegetables like berries and leafy greens.
- Whole grains.
- Fish and lean meats.
- Olive oil.
Foods to avoid:
- Red meat.
- Highly processed foods.
- Whole-fat cheese.
- Butter.
- Fried foods and sweets.
Brain health treatment guide
This guide provides a roadmap for your journey to the best possible brain health. Where supportive evidence is available, recommendations are based on the most current clinical, epidemiological and nutritional data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Alzheimer’s disease be prevented?
There’s no way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease by 100%. But current research estimates that up to 40% of Alzheimer’s disease cases could have been prevented with lifestyle modifications. We know a lot about facing these risks (and changing how we eat, move and think) to reduce the odds of developing this disease — or delaying the start of symptoms.
How do I make an appointment, and how much do services cost?
For more information, please visit Appointments & Locations and Cost & Insurance information.
How many appointments will I have?
You’ll typically have three in-person visits at our clinic and a check-in visit that can either be in-person or virtual. Here’s what will happen at each of these appointments:
First visit
- You’ll do some testing during your first visit. Because of this, no support people are allowed in the testing room with you. They can stay in our waiting room if they come with you to this visit. Also, anyone who accompanies you to any of your visits must be 18+.
Second visit
- On your second visit, you’ll meet with a neuropsychologist (a psychologist who specializes in how your brain works). They’ll talk with you about your test results and make recommendations. You are welcome to bring one family member or friend (18+) along for this visit.
Third visit
- At your third visit, you’ll meet with a medical provider. We’ll talk more about your results and recommendations. You’re welcome to bring one family member or friend age 18+ along for this visit.
Fourth visit
- Your fourth visit will take place a couple months after your third in-person visit to our center. You’ll check back in with your provider — either in-person or virtually. They’ll go over your bloodwork results and touch base with you about your lifestyle changes. Feel free to ask any questions or share concerns with your provider. You’re welcome to have one friend or family member join you for this appointment.
Why do I have to provide my insurance information?
When you come for your visit, you’ll need to review and sign the Financial Responsibility terms in Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health – Las Vegas’ Patient Acknowledgment and Consent Document. It’s also available via MyChart. You’ll also be financially responsible for the services related to the blood draw and the medical provider visit.
We recommend you check with your insurance carrier before your appointments start to verify your benefits and coverage. Otherwise, you may have to pay out of pocket for these services.
Philanthropic donations cover certain services provided by The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention Center. These include your cognitive and physical testing, visit with a neuropsychologist, online resources and support for scheduling and patient questions.
Please contact a Cleveland Clinic Patient Financial Advocate, at 216.442.1600, with any questions you may have about your financial responsibility for the services our center provides.
How will Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic communicate with me throughout my prevention journey?
MyChart, our electronic medical record, is the best and fastest way to reach us. We’ll also use email to reach out with reminders or opportunities. So, it’s important to keep an eye on your email for any updates or additional questionnaires we may send to you.
- Visit clevelandclinic.org/mychart to get started.
If you’re not yet a patient, you can feel free to ask us general questions by emailing us at womenpreventalz@ccf.org – however, if you are a patient with questions that relate to your medical care, please use our secure MyChart.
Are lab draws mandatory for patients of this clinic?
Lab draws are mandatory for WAM Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic to provide full, comprehensive feedback and recommendations.
Are there opportunities to participate in research?
WAM Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic seeks to improve clinical processes for Alzheimer’s disease prevention.
We offer all participants the opportunity to allow us to use your de-identified clinical data (that is, scores and ratings with no name or identifying information attached) to help us assess quality of our services and improve them in the future. We also have an ongoing study of stress and estrogen that you may be eligible to participate in. We’ll go over these opportunities at your visit.
We will also periodically offer other types of research that are designed to help us understand why Alzheimer’s disease is different in this population — and what we can do about that. Click here to see if any current research applies to you.
How do I get more information?
You can email us at womenpreventalz@ccf.org for more information.
Why do I need to have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease or a known genetic risk to participate in the program?
Our clinic is designed for Alzheimer’s disease prevention and risk reduction in people at increased risk for the disease. Although many of our recommendations can be applied for brain health generally, each participant’s specific plan is designed for Alzheimer’s disease prevention — and preventing other conditions or for general healthy aging.
What if I have had memory changes or have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia?
WAM Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic is designed for participants who currently don’t have memory issues. If you’ve had memory changes or a diagnosis of a memory disorder, our team of neurologists at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health provides diagnosis and ongoing treatment for these cognitive disorders. We also offer support services for family members who care for you.
Why are Black and Hispanic people at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease?
Researchers are still working on this question. One part of the answer that has been studied is that Black and Hispanic people are more likely to face systemic factors that can increase Alzheimer’s disease risk, like reduced access to medical care, education opportunities and healthy foods.
