Innovation for Good: Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement and Mosh

Alzheimer’s disease—a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and cognitive skills—is the sixth leading cause of death for Americans. The facts are startling. It is estimated that there are currently 6.7 million people aged 65 or older with Alzheimer’s dementia. That figure is projected to rise to 13.8 million by 2060, yet there are no widespread treatments, much less a cure.

It was these realizations that led Maria Shriver, noted advocate and philanthropist, to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association in a groundbreaking report on gender and Alzheimer’s disease. Research has shown that Alzheimer’s disproportionately affects women, with two-thirds of clinically diagnosed cases of the disease attributed to women.

Shriver’s report disputed the notion that age was the sole reason for that disparity. It led to the founding of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM), determined to support research, education, prevention, and advocacy to create awareness and effect change.

WAM’s mission is to “discover why Alzheimer’s discriminates against women, and to prepare women and their families for the impact of Alzheimer’s by providing them with information and tools to help prevent the disease.”

The practical goals of the organization include funding gender-based research, educating the public through various forms of outreach, advocating at all levels of government for policy change and funding, and providing on-the-ground services for women.

And the final goal? “We envision a future in which Alzheimer’s will no longer destroy the lives of women and their families.”

Mosh

The National Institute on Aging has postulated that diet may help to prevent or delay dementia caused by Alzheimer’s. “Many studies suggest that what we eat affects the aging brain’s ability to think and remember.”

Maria Shriver and her son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, wanted to create a product to support this notion … a nutritious offering that would support cognitive health. In collaboration with Shriver’s existing foundation, the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, they created Mosh protein bars.

Enlisting the input of top neuroscientists and functional nutritionists, Shriver and Schwarzenegger created these quick-grab bars to check all the right boxes—non-GMO, gluten-free, no added sugar, kosher, adaptogen-powered, and keto-friendly.

The “secret sauce” is a science-based formula of ashwagandha, lion’s mane, collagen, omega-3s, and vitamins B12 and D3. It has been postulated that such anti-inflammatory and antioxidant dietary components may assist in slowing cognitive decline.

But Shriver and Schwarzenegger have far more on their minds with Mosh bars than just providing a healthy and tasty breakfast alternative, on-the-go snack, or post-workout assist. “At Mosh, our mission is simple: we exist to create a conversation about brain health through food, education, research, and providing the tools for a “mindstyle” lifestyle.”

With all the protein bars out there, why should you buy this one? Shriver answers, “it’s delicious, it’s nutritious, it’s good for your brain, good for your body, it’s not high in calories, and it does what no other bar does: it funds women-based brain Alzheimer’s research.”

This article was originally published in the January-February 2024 issue of alive magazine (US edition).