The Notebook Star Gena Rowlands Has Alzheimer’s Disease, In ‘Full Dementia’, Son Says

Actress Gena Rowlands, known for her roles in films like “The Notebook,” is currently facing the difficulties of Alzheimer’s disease. Her son, Nick Cassavetes, revealed in an interview that the 93-year-old icon has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a condition she portrayed in “The Notebook.”

In the movie released in 2004, Rowlands played an older version of Rachel McAdams’ character, Allie. As she deals with the disease, the topic of Alzheimer’s has become a personal reality for her, influenced by her work on the film and conversations with her son. Cassavetes expressed the strange feeling of experiencing Alzheimer’s in real life after having depicted it onscreen.

In 2015, Rowlands retired from acting with her last appearance in “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.” She received an Academy Award for her exceptional contributions to the film industry. Unfortunately, Gena’s mother, Lady Rowlands, also faced the challenges of Alzheimer’s, a topic that Gena openly discussed in a 2004 interview.