LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is expanding its women’s Alzheimer’s program with a new focus on risk reduction and earlier intervention.
Dementia cases are expected to double by 2060, and women account for nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“That period during midlife is when women are, they have the greatest opportunity to lower their risk of Alzheimer’s as well as to slow cognitive decline that can occur with aging,” said Dr. Sandra Darling, who now leads the center.
The center launched back in 2020 in partnership with Maria Shriver. The year-long program serves women between the ages of 30 and 65 who may be at higher risk.
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“We know that when we address risk factors like physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, specifically between the ages of like 40 to 60, we have the greatest impact to lower Alzheimer’s risk later in life,” Darling said.
Women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s, making up nearly two-thirds of cases in the country. In Nevada, 37,000 women ages 65 and older are living with the disease. Experts say that’s linked to longer life expectancy, hormonal changes, and other biological and genetic factors.
“There’s an urgent need to provide care to women because dementia cases are expected to double by 2060,” Darling said.
Darling said one of the biggest challenges is awareness with many women unaware of their risk.
New this year, shared medical appointments will bring women together in group settings.
“Offering a series of shared medical appointments where we bring patients together that are focused on similar health goals, and we connect them with different experts, such as experts in culinary medicine, sleep, and stress management, so that they have a multidisciplinary approach to their care,” Darling said.
Since opening in 2020, the WAM Prevention and Research Center has supported more than 2,000 patient visits.
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