CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Clinic is taking a major step forward in advancing women's health research.
Today, alongside Maria Shriver, Cleveland Clinic announced the launch of its new Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center. This center will focus on access, connectivity, education and research for women in midlife and beyond.
"So today is really the Cleveland Clinic, putting a flag in the ground and saying, we want to be the preeminence center for women in the world. We want to take care of women. We understand that they're not just little men, that their lives, their health spans are long and complex and complicated. And this is the place to come for your brain and for your body," said Shriver.
In addition, Shriver sat down exclusively with 3News' Maureen Kyle to talk about her role as chief visionary and strategic advisor for the new research center.
The full one-on-one interview can be watched below:
Shriver is the founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at the Cleveland Clinic and has worked with doctors and researchers across the country for several years.
"I think focusing on women at midlife, trying to understand what is going on for women at midlife, is that the place that Alzheimer's begins? Is that the place that cardiovascular deterioration begins? Is that the place that type two diabetes begins? And, and then we can help women at midlife live longer and live better, because women do, as we know, live longer, but they don't necessarily live better," said Shriver.
The full announcement can be watched below:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 data, there are more than 63 million women in the U.S. who are 50 years of age or older. The CDC also reports that 80% of women aged 55 and older have at least one chronic disease.
"So it's not just women or two-thirds of those who get Alzheimer's. They're 80% of those with autoimmune. The majority of those with MS. And the list really goes on. 6,000 women go into menopause every single day. And so many women go to their doctors in the perimenopause or menopause stage, and they don't get the answers they need because they don't have the research," said Shriver.
This new center aims to bring together behavioral health, breast health, cardiovascular care, menopause research and disease prevention, among other areas of focus.
"I think it is a revolutionary change, and I'm proud to be a part of it. And grateful to the Cleveland Clinic for putting women's names on the door and for understanding that this needed and needs a comprehensive approach," said Shriver.
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