WAM Forum Celebrates Women’s Brain Health Progress

The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) at Cleveland Clinic, founded by Maria Shriver, is set to host its inaugural WAM Forum, bringing together a diverse group of leading scientists, clinicians, advocates, and innovators on the frontlines of women’s brain health and Alzheimer’s disease.

The event, scheduled for Monday, May 19th, 2025, in Las Vegas, aims to celebrate the significant progress being made in women’s brain health research and advocacy while also honoring key leaders in the field and recognizing the recipients of the 2025 WAM Research Grants.

 

Understanding the Impact of Alzheimer’s on Women

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes brain cells to waste away and die, leading to dementia. It is the most common cause of dementia and poses a particularly critical women’s health issue because it disproportionately impacts women. Women are not only more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than men (partly due to living longer, but also potentially other biological and lifestyle factors) but also bear a significant burden as unpaid family caregivers for loved ones living with the disease.

 

This dual impact places women at the epicenter of the Alzheimer’s crisis, as highlighted by Maria Shriver. Dr. Beri Ridgeway, Executive Vice President and Enterprise Chief of Staff at Cleveland Clinic, underscored the urgency, noting that dementia cases are projected to double by 2060, with women representing more than half of those new cases.

 

The Mission to Close the Research Gap

The establishment and work of WAM at Cleveland Clinic are dedicated to addressing the specific vulnerabilities and experiences of women regarding Alzheimer’s disease. As Maria Shriver commented, while women are at the crisis’s epicenter, their experiences have “long been overlooked in research.”

 

The creation of the WAM Forum represents a “culmination of our efforts to transform how we approach women’s brain health.” By gathering leading minds and advocates, the forum aims to foster crucial conversations and accelerate research to help close the historic gap in women’s health research and tackle one of the most pressing health issues of our time.

 

Celebrating Progress and Funding Future Research

The WAM Forum serves as a platform to not only celebrate progress already made but also to actively fund and promote future research. A key part of the event is the recognition of the 2025 WAM Research Grant recipients. These grants provide vital “seed funding” to enable scientists to conduct cutting-edge research specifically focused on understanding why women are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Ridgeway noted the crucial importance of these grants in the face of rising dementia projections.

 

WAM grants have a significant track record of impact; this year marks the 51st study funded by a WAM Research grant, and collectively, WAM-funded studies to date have garnered more than $83 million in additional downstream research funding from institutions like the National Institutes of Health and other foundations, creating a powerful multiplier effect in this crucial field.

 

Focusing on Key Research Areas

The 2025 WAM Research Grants awarded at the forum are directing significant funding towards specific, promising areas of research at Cleveland Clinic. A total of $625,000 will be distributed among three Cleveland Clinic researchers: Tara Desilva, Ph.D., Jielin Xu, Ph.D., and Antoine Louveau, Ph.D.

 

Their studies are collectively aimed at addressing the complex interplay of sex differences, immune responses, and the gut microbiome in relation to the progression and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Investigating these areas is critical for uncovering the biological and physiological reasons behind women’s increased risk.

 

Insights on Menopause and Brain Health

A specific highlight of the WAM Forum program is an intimate discussion between Maria Shriver and Mary Claire Haver, M.D., a renowned menopause expert and founder of The Pause Life. This conversation will delve into the latest scientific findings on the connection between menopause and women’s brain health and longevity.

 

Menopause involves significant hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen, and understanding how these shifts might impact brain health and potentially influence Alzheimer’s risk is a crucial and growing area of research that the forum will bring to the forefront.

 

Honoring Leaders in Advocacy and Support

For the first time, the WAM Forum will present Awards for Leadership, recognizing individuals and organizations making significant contributions to women’s health research and caregiving advocacy. Emma Heming Willis, author, advocate for frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and caregivers, and co-founder of Make Time Wellness, will receive the Caregiving Award for her outstanding work in advocating for unpaid family caregivers.

 

MOSH – The Brain Brand®, founded by Maria Shriver and her son Patrick Schwarzenegger, will receive the Corporate Leadership Award for their substantial and ongoing support of WAM, including providing over $250,000 to support WAM Research grants and promoting brain health education to millions of consumers.

 

Elaine Wynn, a businesswoman and philanthropist, will be recognized posthumously with the Leadership Award for her substantial contributions to women’s health research and Alzheimer’s prevention efforts. Emma Heming Willis commented on the deep meaning of receiving the Caregiving Award, highlighting the lack of a “roadmap or guide to becoming a caregiver” and the desperate need for more education and support resources for those in this demanding role.

 

She emphasized the critical role of research and education in combating stigma and impact, and viewed the forum as an essential step in recognizing caregivers and advocating for their support.

 

The WAM Prevention and Research Center: A Unique Model

The venue for the inaugural WAM Forum, the Keep Memory Alive Event Center on the campus of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, is the home of the WAM Prevention and Research Center. This center, a partnership between Maria Shriver and Lou Ruvo Center co-founders Camille and Larry Ruvo, is a first-of-its-kind clinic that uniquely combines clinical care with innovative research focused specifically on women’s brain health.

 

Its core mission is to better understand why women are more at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and, crucially, how it might be prevented. The center’s work builds upon growing scientific evidence suggesting that up to 45% of Alzheimer’s cases could potentially be prevented through healthy lifestyle modifications. As the center approaches its fifth anniversary in June, it is already significantly contributing to a new era of understanding women’s disproportionate impact and advancing preventive strategies.

 

Tangible Achievements of the Prevention Center

Over its nearly five years of operation, the WAM Prevention and Research Center has achieved significant milestones. It has seen more than 457 women from 31 different states, totaling over 1,658 patient visits, demonstrating its reach and impact. A high percentage of its patients are actively contributing to research, with more than 281 women (61% of patients seen) enrolled in studies focused on understanding the role of stress and estrogen in brain health, evaluating the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions, and assessing changing risk factors.

 

The center has also been prolific in disseminating its findings, producing 31 talks, 26 publications, and 52 posters/abstracts specifically on the link between sex and Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Its research has successfully garnered approximately $8 million in additional federal grant funding to further examine sex differences in Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, the center has pioneered the characterization of women actively seeking preventive services for Alzheimer’s and identifying their shared risk factors, including behavioral health issues and medical comorbidities.

 

Advancing Prevention in Brain Health

The work of the WAM Prevention and Research Center, highlighted at the forum, is fundamentally about advancing the concept and acceptance of prevention in brain health. Camille Ruvo, co-founder and vice chairwoman of Keep Memory Alive (the fundraising arm of the Lou Ruvo Center), emphasized that the data collected by the center has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of women’s risk.

 

She expressed the hope that through continued research, prevention will “one day be as widely accepted as an approach in brain health as it is in heart disease,” drawing a parallel to the established importance of preventive measures for cardiovascular health.

 

Attending or Watching the Forum

The inaugural WAM Forum is a public event, and it is free to attend, although space is limited. It is being held in conjunction with National Women’s Health Month, further emphasizing its focus on women’s health. The event will take place at the Keep Memory Alive Event Center on the campus of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas on Monday, May 19th, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Those interested in learning more and registering to attend in person can visit cle.clinic/WAMForum. For individuals unable to attend in person, a livestream option is available. The event will be livestreamed on Monday, May 19th, starting at 12 p.m. PT, and can be accessed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/5112588.

 

A Critical Event for Women’s Brain Health

The inaugural WAM Forum, hosted by the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic and Maria Shriver, is a critical event for advancing women’s brain health. Bringing together leading experts, advocates, and the public on May 19th, the forum serves to highlight the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s disease on women, celebrate progress in Alzheimer’s research (including the impact of WAM grants), honor leaders in caregiving advocacy and research, and raise crucial awareness.

 

By showcasing the vital work of the WAM Prevention and Research Center towards understanding women’s increased risk and advancing preventive strategies, the WAM Forum plays a key role in fostering conversation, funding future research, and moving closer to a future where prevention in brain health is as widely accepted as in other areas of health, urging participation or viewing to support this essential cause.