The Shriver Family with Maria and her father, Sargent, in the middle
Women's Alzheimer's Movement at Cleveland Clinic
Meet Maria Shriver, Founder of WAM
In 2003, Maria Shriver’s father, Sargent, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This was a man who founded the Peace Corps and served as the U.S. ambassador to France, who was “brilliant,” as Shriver tells us, “with a memory that was second to none.” How was this possible? There were too many questions, and not enough answers. So the longtime news anchor did what any good journalist would do—she relentlessly looked for the answers.
When Shriver couldn’t find a children’s book to explain the disease to her kids, she wrote her own, What's Happening to Grandpa? She teamed up with HBO on a four-part documentary, The Alzheimer's Project, and published The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Takes on Alzheimer’s, which uncovered—for the first time—that Alzheimer's disproportionately impacts women. That game-changing research eventually led to the founding of our #VBGIVESBACK partner, the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) at Cleveland Clinic, which is dedicated to women-based Alzheimer’s prevention, research, education and advocacy. “I wanted to answer the question of why,” explains Shriver of the mission. “Why do women’s brains make them more vulnerable?” (Read more about the nonprofit here.)
“For the past 20 years of my life, I’ve been the frontline of the disease,” says Shriver, whose most recent endeavor is Mosh, a line of brain-healthy protein bars she launched with her son Patrick. “I’m trying to address dementia from every angle that I can.”
Q&A
Tell us about your personal connection to this cause…
My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2003. He was an incredibly brilliant man, with a memory that was second to none. To watch someone lose that in real time was both heartbreaking and mind-blowing. Instead of feeling helpless or upset, I decided to better understand what Alzheimer's was and how we could prevent it.
My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2003. He was an incredibly brilliant man, with a memory that was second to none. To watch someone lose that in real time was both heartbreaking and mind-blowing. Instead of feeling helpless or upset, I decided to better understand what Alzheimer's was and how we could prevent it.
What inspired you to name your organization a movement?
Because it’s a movement of people. We’re growing from the grassroots up. Also, movement is important when you’re talking about brain health and, if you want to get anything done in the world, if you want to galvanize people, you need a movement.
Because it’s a movement of people. We’re growing from the grassroots up. Also, movement is important when you’re talking about brain health and, if you want to get anything done in the world, if you want to galvanize people, you need a movement.
A scene from Maria Shriver's HBO documentary, The Alzheimer's Project
Since you’ve become involved in this space, how have things changed?
Alzheimer's was in the shadows. It was this scary disease that people thought only affected old people. Now there’s a much bigger conversation about cognitive health and dementia. Women are part of the narrative now. So is lifestyle.
Alzheimer's was in the shadows. It was this scary disease that people thought only affected old people. Now there’s a much bigger conversation about cognitive health and dementia. Women are part of the narrative now. So is lifestyle.
Lifestyle?
When I first started, no one was talking about things you could do to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s. Now we know that exercise and sleep are good and that sugar, stress and certain foods are bad.
When I first started, no one was talking about things you could do to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s. Now we know that exercise and sleep are good and that sugar, stress and certain foods are bad.
What are some misconceptions about Alzheimer’s?
1. That it’s hereditary. If Alzheimer's runs in your family, you should be concerned. But if it doesn’t run in your family, you should also be concerned. This can impact any one of us.
2. That it’s just part of aging. There are things you can do, starting in your 30s, 40s or 50s, to protect your brain. Will they prevent dementia completely? No, but they may delay it and keep you functioning longer.
1. That it’s hereditary. If Alzheimer's runs in your family, you should be concerned. But if it doesn’t run in your family, you should also be concerned. This can impact any one of us.
2. That it’s just part of aging. There are things you can do, starting in your 30s, 40s or 50s, to protect your brain. Will they prevent dementia completely? No, but they may delay it and keep you functioning longer.
“If Alzheimer's runs in your family, you should be concerned. But if it doesn’t run in your family, you should also be concerned. This can impact any one of us.”
How can children help elderly parents who may dismiss early symptoms?
When you notice things changing, you must act. Talk to them. Look at what they are eating and not eating. Read labels. Take them to a neurologist to get them checked out. But, most importantly, be gentle and be kind. Put yourself in their shoes. There are many ways to approach the issue with love and compassion.
When you notice things changing, you must act. Talk to them. Look at what they are eating and not eating. Read labels. Take them to a neurologist to get them checked out. But, most importantly, be gentle and be kind. Put yourself in their shoes. There are many ways to approach the issue with love and compassion.
Advice to caretakers who are already on this journey?
Make sure you are taking care of yourselves. This can be tough. If you know a caretaker, acknowledge the amount of work they’re doing, the stress they’re under and that they’re probably scared, too. Make sure they take breaks. And if you’re bringing somebody in to do the work, make sure you’re paying them a living wage.
Make sure you are taking care of yourselves. This can be tough. If you know a caretaker, acknowledge the amount of work they’re doing, the stress they’re under and that they’re probably scared, too. Make sure they take breaks. And if you’re bringing somebody in to do the work, make sure you’re paying them a living wage.
How do you prioritize your own cognitive health?
I exercise and meditate daily. I eat as best I can. I prioritize my sleep. I try to stay connected, curious and involved.
I exercise and meditate daily. I eat as best I can. I prioritize my sleep. I try to stay connected, curious and involved.
Maria Shriver, center, at the SHE Media CoLab panel at SXSW, March 2023. Photo courtesy of SHE Media.
From now to the end of June, we will donate a portion of proceeds from every single veronicabeard.com order to the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic, which is changing the future for women and Alzheimer’s through prevention, research, education and advocacy. Learn more about the partnership here. #VBGIVESBACK
