Twenty years since she appeared in tear-jerking romantic blockbuster The Notebook, actress Gena Rowlands has been diagnosed with 'full dementia', according to a statement released by her son.
The 93-year-old played the older version of leading lady Rachel McAdams' character Allie in the star-studded movie, which also featured Ryan Gosling and James Marsden.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, her son - director and actor Nick Cassavetes - opened up about his mother's recent health struggle.
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"I got my mom to play older Allie, and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer's and wanting to be authentic with it, and now, for the last five years, she's had Alzheimer's," he explained.
As the movie celebrates its 20th anniversary, he went on to reveal that Gena had been diagnosed with the same condition which took hold of her character Allie in the 2004 film.
Nick - whose grandmother and Gena's own mother were also diagnosed with the condition - went on to explain: "She's in full dementia. And it's so crazy — we lived it, she acted it, and now it's on us."
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Dementia is categorised by the NHS as a group of symptoms associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning, affecting the memory of the patient, as well as their thinking skills and other mental abilities.
Whilst the cause of Alzheimer's disease and dementia hasn't yet been determined, it is believed that an aspect of the condition may be linked in some way to genetics.
Prior to her role in the award-winning movie, Gena had a career spanning almost seven decades, and picked up two Oscar nominations and an Academy Award throughout her time in the spotlight.
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The star previously lifted the lid on her experience playing a character suffering with dementia after her mother suffered the same condition.
"This last one — The Notebook, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks — was particularly hard because I play a character who has Alzheimer's," she told O Magazine in 2004.
"I went through that with my mother, and if Nick hadn't directed the film, I don't think I would have gone for it — it's just too hard. It was a tough but wonderful movie."
Reflecting on the movie, Nick went on to admit he can't believe it's been two decades since it landed in cinemas.
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"It's always a shock to hear that as much time has gone by as it has, but it makes sense. I'm just happy that it exists," he told the outlet.
"It seems to have worked and I'm very proud of it."
Topics: Celebrity, Health, TV And Film
Rhianna Benson