Maria Shriver: Alzheimer’s Awareness Is ‘Ultimate Women’s … – NECN

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Maria Shriver was in Boston Friday to talk about a disease that is not always top of mind for women, but she says it should be, and her mission to find a cure for Alzheimers is a personal one.

Shriver watched the disease take a devastating toll on her late fathers mind. Robert Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2003.

And he was, as Ive always said, the smartest human being Id ever met, Shriver said. So to watch a brain like that go from functioning as this beautifully finely tuned instrument to not really being able to function at all is an incredible thing to witness.

His story is the motivation for her non-profit, the Womens Alzheimers Movement. The organization is dedicated to raising money for womens based research and raising awareness about the disease that does discriminate.

Of the 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimers, two-thirds are women. A woman in her 60s is twice as likely to Alzheimers as she is to get breast cancer. They are statistics Shriver is determined to get out to the public.

This is the ultimate womens empowerment issue because if you dont have your mind you cannot feel empowered, Shriver said.

Shriver is also focused on prevention, knowing Alzheimers can develop in the brain 20 years before a person becomes symptomatic. From a healthy diet and sleeping habit to meditation and brain-sharpening exercises, she says there are things a person can do.

The prevention techniques are highlighted in a coloring book Shriver authored for those with Alzheimers and their caregivers called Color Your Mind.

Shriver spoke at the Brain Health Fair at the Boston Convention Center and she may be back in Boston in June. Her non-profit is hosting a Move For Minds event at Equinox locations across the country including Boston. Shriver will visit the location where participants raise the most money for research.

You can find out more about the event and Shrivers non-profit here.

Published at 4:03 PM EDT on Apr 21, 2017 | Updated at 5:14 PM EDT on Apr 21, 2017

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Maria Shriver: Alzheimer's Awareness Is 'Ultimate Women's ... - NECN