More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, a number projected to nearly double by 2050. Women face a higher risk than men, with one in five expected to develop the disease in their lifetime.

Advocates have raised concerns about the higher risk of Alzheimer's disease among women, noting that one in five women are at risk of developing the condition in their lifetime, compared to one in ten men. Experts suggest that hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen, may contribute to this increased vulnerability.

Early signs of Alzheimer's can include memory issues and difficulty with daily tasks, and advocates emphasize the importance of self-advocacy and regular discussions with healthcare providers about brain health. They recommend daily practices such as social connection, mental exercises, proper nutrition, sleep, and physical activity to support brain health and potentially reduce risk. Caregivers, who are often women, are encouraged to seek support and prioritize their own health as well.

Women face higher risk of Alzheimer's, advocates say

September is World Alzheimer's Month and it's something that affects so many families across the country. More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's right now. Maybe that's you or someone that you love. And that number is expected to nearly double by 2050. And something you may not know, listen to this, women are more vulnerable to the disease. At age 45, one in five women are at risk of developing Alzheimer's in their lifetime. Meanwhile, for men, that number is one in 10. I didn't know this. Our next guests are raising awareness about the disease and its impact on women. We're so thankful for that. Emma Hemming Willis and Helen Crestoni are the co-founders of Make Time Wellness, a brand dedicated to promoting women's brain health. They've also both had family members affected by Alzheimer's and dementia, and we're so glad that they're here. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for having us. Thank you so much for having us. I had no idea that women were so much more susceptible to this. Why? You know, I think with women, it's because of our hormones, and estrogen plays a very big role in protecting our brains. So when our estrogen levels start to decline, so does our brain health. So it's very important as women that we really understand that, and we really start thinking about our brain health. So what are the signs that people should be looking out for to get ahead of this? I mean, I think that it's about, you know, maybe losing words. You know, not being able to complete daily tasks, like you're just having a difficult time sort of moving through life. I think this is something, these are early signs. Are they different in women? They can be. I mean, I think for most, as a woman myself, like I experienced brain fog. And for me, I felt like that was a very clear first sign for myself to be able to get to the doctor, and be able to advocate for myself. Because, I mean, when was the last time someone spoke to you about your brain? Yeah, I mean, but you're young. Like, was, how did you know, why did you think that that could be a reason to go get help? And did you get any kind of treatment? Was that link made between that brain fog, and maybe something more serious? Yeah, I mean, I was dismissed at my doctor's office. And I think this is something really important that we need to know, and learn how to advocate for ourselves, and like raise our hand, and be able to talk to our doctors. Because I just think that is so important. You know, our doctors aren't speaking to us about our brain health. And this is why we're here. Because, you know, one in five women are at risk of getting Alzheimer's. And I really feel like we can change that outcome. How do we do that? How do we, you know, cut this off, or intervene in a way that can reduce the number of women who develop this? I mean, there are many ways. We call them the brain pillars, the pillars of brain health, that we can do every day. One important one that I love is connection. Just making sure that you're connecting with people, you're making that coffee date, that women actually make time for connection in their life is really important. And then I think another thing is really making sure to make sure your brain is working. Giving it exercises. Turn off the GPS. We're so reliant on things to tell us what to do now. Like, do a crossword puzzle. Just make sure we're, like, activating our brain. Those things really do work, though. Like, there's, like, the rumors. Like, oh, I do my sudoku or whatever to, you know, prevent dementia. But that actually has been proven to work. Yes. Go to the grocery store without a grocery list. Like, just try and, like, commit some things to memory. But not mental math. Don't make me do mental math. I won't ask you to do that. I can't do that. But also, like, sleep, nutrition, supplementation, exercise is so important for your brain. Exercise I can do, sleep I can't do. But these are good tips. I'm curious. The other thing that, with women in particular, I think they take on caregiving roles with more regularity. And sometimes they might be taking care of somebody with dementia. But at the very same time, they've got to worry about their own health and keep an eye out. How do you balance the two? Any advice? And I say, I ask you both this with loved ones in your own lives who have dementia or Alzheimer's. Yeah, I mean, I think that as a caregiver, as women, mothers, you know, we are always the last on our list. And it is really important for us to be able to bring in our friends, our families' support. You know, I think it's like 43% of caregivers aren't making their own doctor's appointment because they don't have the support at home. Wow. That's the last thing on their minds. Yeah, they're taking care of so much. So it's important for us to have community to be able to help. And really quickly before we go, are there hormone therapies that can help? And is there a link to menopause? It's absolutely linked to menopause. And it's really important when we're going to the doctor that they're really asking what they can do for their brain health. And we're actively having that conversation at Make Time Wellness, really giving women actionable things that they can do every day to take care of their brain health. All right, I'm going to go to your website. What is your website? MakeTimeWellness.com. Oh, that's convenient. Emma Hemmingwillis and Helen Christoni. Thank you so much. Thank you.

An AI-generated government “minister” made its debut with an address in the Albanian parliament on Thursday (September 18), with Prime Minister Edi Rama presenting the bot as a symbol of his government’s push for transparency and innovation.

Tiranë

Rise of AI

Albania unveils AI-generated 'minister'

Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets lingered in NATO-member Estonia's airspace for several minutes on Friday, according to Estonian authorities.

Tallinn

Ukraine Invasion

Russian fighter jets violated Estonia's airspace, authorities say

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown that would fund the government until Nov. 21. CBS News' Nikole Killion reports.

Washington

House passes short-term spending bill to avert shutdown

ABC preempted Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after U.S President Donald Trump's appointed Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr threatened action following Kimmel's comments surrounding the killing of Charlie Kirk. Now Trump is suggesting that networks that 'only give him bad press' should have their licenses suspended.

Trump suggests revoking licenses of networks that are ‘against' him

French President Emmanuel Macron tells "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan that France's decision to recognize a Palestinian state is necessary "to isolate Hamas" and help stop the war.

Paris

Middle East Conflict

Macron: Recognizing Palestinian statehood necessary 'to isolate Hamas'

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension of talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel from the airwaves and said TV broadcasters should lose their licenses over negative coverage of his administration, adding fuel to a national debate over free speech.

Trump applauds comedian Jimmy Kimmel's suspension

A much-awaited announcement about a deal to keep Chinese-owned App TikTok online in the US is likely in the coming hours. It will be one of the main items on the agenda of a phone-call between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The two men will also discuss a standoff over trade tariffs.

Beijing

Xi, Trump set to discuss TikTok deal in Friday call

The US blocked a UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, drawing condemnation from members. Algeria’s UN ambassador Amar Bendjama apologized to Palestinians after the vote.

New York

U.S. vetoes UN Gaza ceasefire resolution for sixth time

U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a joint news conference to conclude Trump’s state visit to the U.K. Trump acknowledged a disagreement with Starmer over Gaza and Palestinian statehood.

London

Trump, Starmer disagree over Palestinian state as visit wraps

A group of 22 young climate activists is suing the Trump administration in hopes of blocking three executive orders promoting the use of fossil fuels.

Missoula

Young climate activists sue Trump over fossil fuel orders

A CDC advisory panel voted to shift its guidance on immunising children under 4 with the combined measles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccine. Instead of the combined shot, the advisory panel voted to recommend the age group get an MMR vaccine and a varicella vaccine separately.

Atlanta

CDC updates guidance on MMRV vaccine for young children

ABC confirmed that the popular late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has been "preempted indefinitely" following comments Kimmel made on the show in response to the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Trump admin under fire after ABC pulls Jimmy Kimmel show

President Trump on Thursday addressed ABC's decision to pre-empt "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" over comments Kimmel made about the shooting of Charlie Kirk. CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul has more.

Trump comments on Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off air

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow the president to fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. CBS News' Kelly O'Grady reports.

Trump asks Supreme Court to allow Lisa Cook firing

U.S. President Donald Trump signaled new action against left-wing groups following the assassination of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, targeting the anti-fascist Antifa movement as a "terrorist organisation."

Trump targets Antifa movement as 'terrorist organization'

ABC said that the late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has been "pre-empted indefinitely" after comments Kimmel made on the show in response to the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Jonathan Vigliotti reports.

ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel show over Charlie Kirk comments

In southern Pennsylvania, three police officers were fatally shot and two others were injured in a violent incident. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack and searching for leads on the suspect or suspects involved.

Haar Road

Three police officers killed, two wounded in Pennsylvania shooting

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said the U.S. and Beijing "have larger agendas to work out" after media reports of China's internet regulator ordering top tech firms to halt purchases of the American company's AI chips and cancel existing orders.

China tells tech firms to stop buying Nvidia's AI chips, FT reports

The U.S. Federal Reserve announced that it lowered interest rates by 0.25 percentage points, its first rate cut since December 2024. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has more.

Fed cuts interest rates by 0.25 percentage points

Large-scale protests took place in central London in response to Trump’s state visit, with demonstrators highlighting his alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump's historic UK state visit met with protests in Windsor

On the same day a ground offensive was launched in Gaza City, a United Nations Commission of Inquiry report concluded Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, a finding emphatically denied by Israeli officials.

Jerusalem

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, UN inquiry finds

Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, said that foreign laboratory tests on biological samples obtained from her husband showed that he was poisoned.

Yulia Navalnaya says foreign tests show her husband was poisoned

Prosecutors formally changed Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and said they intend to seek the death penalty. Authorities also revealed exchanges between Robinson and his roommate.

Utah County

Prosecutors formally charge Charlie Kirk shooting suspect

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at Windsor Castle and were greeted by King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe has the latest.

Windsor

Trump greeted by British royal family at Windsor Castle

The eyes of the global financial markets are on the US Federal Reserve. It's expected to be cut later on Wednesday, around a quarter-point. But US President Donald Trump has called repeatedly for much steeper rate cuts.

Global markets watch as Trump challenges Fed independence

The U.S. Secretary of State has visited Qatar a week after Israel attacked a meeting of the Hamas negotiating team in Doha. Marco Rubio met Qatar's Prime Minister and the Emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

Doha

Marco Rubio visits Doha, holds talks with Emir and PM

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray provided updates Tuesday on the case against Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk. Robinson is charged with seven counts, including aggravated murder. The state is seeking the death penalty.

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect charged with murder

A judge has dismissed two state terrorism-related charges against Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December. CBS News' Anna Schecter has more details.

Luigi Mangione's state terrorism charges dismissed in CEO killing

Israel said it has launched its ground offensive in Gaza City. It comes as a United Nations inquiry finds that Israel's nearly two-year war on Gaza is a genocide. Israeli leaders have denounced the report as "distorted and false."

Israel launches main phase of ground offensive in Gaza City

U.S. President Donald Trump becomes the first U.S. president to receive a second state visit as Britain faces protests over immigration and growing support for the pro-Trump Reform Party. CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe reports from London.

Breakdown