Even before she met her then-bodybuilding boyfriend Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver always carried her name and fame along with her. And she put it to good use. Always a vocal advocate for human rights in any aspect, this member of the Kennedy family also forged a battle against a serious disease almost two decades ago. She is still on her mission to cure it and rid everyone of its devastating effects. On this note, Shriver was subjected to praise and honor recently by a panel of esteemed women.

A section from Maria Shriver’s appearance in ‘The Big M: The Sunday Paper X Oprah Daily’ was shared on her YouTube channel. Also present were Sharon Malone, Heather Hirsch, and Judith Joseph, all of whom were doctors of medicine. The entire section was titled ‘The Menopause Talk’, but Shriver’s presence demanded heaps of praise be showered on her for her role in fighting Alzheimer’s.

A 20-year-long fight: Maria Shriver’s determination to cure Alzheimer’s

Oprah Winfrey said, “Maria’s done so much work to educate people about their brain health and is the founder…” when she turns towards her and said, “I’m so proud of you”. It was a blissful moment for her. Winfrey continued, “founder of the women’s Alzheimer’s movement and strategic advisor on women’s health and Alzheimer’s at Cleveland…” A round of applause followed.

With the aid of Cleveland Clinic, Maria Shriver has been fighting Alzheimer’s disease for over 20 years now. She is adamant in her pursuit of stopping it. However, what’s interesting is, she also brings a gender-based perspective into her work based on studies.

READ MORE – “This Is Just Scary”: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son and Ex-Wife Maria Shriver Warn the World From a Health Scare During Halloween

Shriver said, “Women are two-thirds of the cases of Alzheimer’s, and as we age neurodegenerative diseases do multiply…” Therefore, being in a similar demographic herself, Shriver believes that learning about the disease and its effect on women has become a passion of hers.

Ways in which one can fight the disease, as per Shriver

Shriver, not unlike her 7X Mr. Olympia ex-husband Schwarzenegger, is too keen on a good quality of life, devoid of any diseases. However, instead of bodybuilding, the Emmy-award-winning producer once implemented boxing in her program. It was a means to stay healthy and avoid any symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s, a progressive disease that starts with mild memory loss and ultimately culminates into full-time memory loss, could be avoided with physical activities like boxing that keep the heart rate up, reckoned Shriver.

Shriver, amidst a myriad of other causes, continues to fight this disease on behalf of thousands of people. And she won’t rest easy until it’s completely cured. What are your thoughts on Shriver’s efforts and Oprah’s appreciation? Let us know in the comments.

Watch this story: From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Ronnie Coleman – Here Are Some of the Famous Protein Shake Recipes