9 Films About Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a complex condition that can deeply affect not only the person diagnosed but also their family, friends, and care partners. While every experience with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia is different, films can help make the emotional, personal, and practical challenges easier to understand. Different movies have explored this condition through powerful stories, showing how memory loss can change relationships, daily life, identity, and family dynamics. These films offer meaningful perspectives on the ripple effect of Alzheimer’s while helping viewers approach the topic with more compassion and awareness.

Here are 9 movies about Alzheimer’s disease that provide thoughtful insight into the condition and the people touched by it.

Still Alice (2014) 

“Still Alice” follows Dr. Alice Howland, an accomplished linguistics professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The film focuses on Alice’s efforts to hold onto her identity, independence, and family relationships as her memory begins to fade. It offers a modern and emotional look at Alzheimer’s disease, especially the pain and uncertainty it can bring to both the person diagnosed and their loved ones. 

“The Leisure Seeker” (2017)

“The Leisure Seeker” follows Ella and John, an elderly couple who leave Boston for a road trip to Florida in their vintage RV. John, a retired literature professor, is living with Alzheimer’s disease, while Ella is facing cancer and her own declining health. As they travel, John’s memory loss becomes more noticeable, but the journey also gives them space to revisit old memories, share humor, and hold onto moments of connection.

The film shows the devotion of a spouse caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s while trying to preserve a sense of normal life. It is a heartfelt story about love, memory, aging, and the difficult choices families may face when health begins to change.

“The Artist’s Wife” (2019)

“The Artist’s Wife” tells the story of Claire, whose husband Richard, a well-known artist, is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As his memory and behavior begin to change, Claire must face a new reality in which she is not only his wife but also his care partner. The film shows how Alzheimer’s can reshape a marriage, especially when one person’s needs start to overshadow the other’s hopes and personal ambitions. Claire’s struggle is not only about protecting Richard’s work and legacy, but also about finding out who she is outside of him. It is a moving story about love, sacrifice, art, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when life no longer looks the way it once did.

The Notebook (2004)

“The Notebook,” based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel, tells the story of a man named Duke reading a love story to a fellow senior living resident, Allie. Unknown to her, Allie is part of the story – a woman who, in her younger years, fell in love with Duke.

The film illustrates the lasting effects of Alzheimer’s by linking the past and present, showing how love can endure even in the face of memory loss.

Lovely, Still (2008)

This romantic drama centers around Robert, an older man who finds love later in life with his new neighbor, Mary. As their relationship blossoms, Robert’s struggles with Alzheimer’s become more apparent.

“Lovely, Still” tenderly explores themes of love, vulnerability, and the beauty of finding connection despite the challenges of cognitive decline.

Elizabeth Is Missing (2019)

“Elizabeth Is Missing” is based on Emma Healey’s bestselling novel and follows Maud, an older woman living with Alzheimer’s disease. When her friend Elizabeth disappears, Maud becomes determined to find out what happened, even as her own memory makes the search harder to follow. As the story unfolds, pieces of Maud’s past begin to surface, connecting the present mystery with long-buried memories.

The film gives a sensitive look at the fear and frustration that can come with Alzheimer’s, while also showing Maud’s persistence and inner strength.

“The Savages” (2007)

In “The Savages”, siblings Wendy and Jon must care for their estranged father, Lenny, who is living with dementia. As they arrange his move into a new community, they are forced to face old family tensions, personal struggles, and the heavy responsibility of caregiving. The film uses both dry humor and tender moments to show how supporting a loved one with dementia can bring guilt, frustration, love, and duty to the surface. It is a thoughtful story about family, forgiveness, and the difficult choices that come with a parent’s changing needs.

“I Remember Better When I Paint” (2009)

“I Remember Better When I Paint” is a powerful documentary about the role art can play in the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Through real stories and art therapy programs from around the world, the film shows how painting can help spark memories, support communication, and create moments of connection with loved ones. It also highlights how creative activities may improve quality of life, especially when words become harder to find. With its hopeful tone, the documentary offers comfort and encouragement for families and care partners. 

“What They Had” (2018)

In “What They Had”, a family is brought together by the painful realities of Alzheimer’s disease as they try to decide what kind of care Ruth, their matriarch, needs. The story follows Bridget, who returns home after her brother Nick asks for help, only to find that everyone sees the situation differently. As the family argues over what is best for Ruth, old tensions and unresolved feelings begin to surface.

The film looks at memory, loss, family loyalty, and the emotional strength it takes to care for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease Through Films

Films can offer a meaningful way to understand better Alzheimer’s disease and the many ways it can affect individuals, families, and care partners. Through personal stories, they offer viewers a closer look at memory loss, changing relationships, and the emotional challenges that can accompany cognitive decline. To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and memory care, schedule a personal tour to Liana of Sarasota today. We’re here to help.