7 Heartbreaking Ways Alzheimer's Has Been Portrayed in Pop Culture

Several years ago, I used to ask my friend Lindsay to pre-watch episodes of Grey's Anatomy before me. If I knew in advance that a storyline was going to feature Meredith's mother or Richard's wife, I needed to know just how intense the plot was going to get. This advance knowledge was essential to me, because I spent nearly seven years as the primary caregiver for my grandmother who battled Alzheimer's disease. Storylines featuring characters with Alzheimer's or dementia, if done well, can turn me inside out. However, I am so thankful to the writers of Hollywood for bringing these characters to life. November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. It is only fitting that our TV shows and movies are starting to reflect this reality. -By Dresden Shumaker

MORE ON BABBLE
10 television series finales that will always make us cry
21 inspiring celebrity caregivers who put family first
25 movies you never knew were based on books