The Notebook Essay

An Analysis of Alzheimer’s Disease Management

Rachel Boyer

Gwynedd Mercy University

Abstract This paper uses the movie The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, to discuss Alzheimer’s Diease. First, the topic of caregiver burden is approached using Noah’s character. He dedicates his life to caring for Allie, while enjoying this, caregivers must also be aware of limitations and burn out. The second topic discussed is Allie’s awareness of her own disease. Alzheimer’s patients in the later stages of memory loss, have moments of lucidity where they can remember what they once couldn’t. Lastly, the movie prompts the analysis of Alzheimer and other dementia’s care in skilled facilities and what healthcare providers can do to improve the

The movie captures the turbulence of young Allie and Noah’s relationship through a series of flashbacks. Hopeless romantics follow the story of the couple to find at the end that Allie is now living life with Alzheimer’s disease. Aside from the romance of the story, The Notebook brings awareness to the prevalence of this disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2014), 5.2 million Americans are currently living with the disease. Most people diagnosed will die eight years after symptoms become noticeable to the loved ones around them; this makes Alzheimer’s disease the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Alzheimer’s is the most familiar form of dementia. It is a progressive and degenerative disease, which affects the communication of neurons in the brain through formation of plaques and tangles. Alzheimer’s Disease affects the cognitive abilities of a person (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014) . This means that a person will lose their ability to make appropriate judgments, recall memory, and lose their orientation. (Maslow, Selstad & Denman, 2002) The Notebook, show’s how Noah copes with being a caregiver, Allie’s awareness of her disease and how we can improve care for Alzheimer