In the 1982 movie Tootsie, Geena Davis made her acting debut. It turned out to be one of her first commercial successes. But, it’s possible that Davis’ work in Thelma and Louise is what made her a leading lady. Davis was able to use her own personal experiences with a common health condition to create her character in one of her later efforts, Marjorie Prime.
The main character in the science fiction movie’s 2017 adaption, an 85-year-old woman who is beginning to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease, is comforted by her daughter Tess (Davis) and her son-in-law Jon (Tim Robbins). They achieve this by hiring Prime, a company that makes holographic projections of deceased family members to help Alzheimer’s patients. Davis was able to use her own emotions to play her part because she had personally witnessed her mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Davis said of her personal experience with the illness: “I found it really moving.
“My mother had Alzheimer’s, so the idea of losing your loved one in bits and pieces really resonated with me,” the author says. “I had a lot of stuff to work with and interesting topics to confront.”
The actor then addressed the intriguing subject of memory and the film’s exploration of how memories are employed. “I just found it intriguing,” she continued.
“I found the subject of memory to be fascinating, particularly how we recall things and how memories fade with time. likewise really emotional.
It’s a very worthwhile subject to investigate. I don’t usually mind bringing [a project] home with me, but this one definitely got me reflecting on my personal life more than any other film I’ve worked on.
Davis claimed that the idea that every time someone remembers something, they’re actually recalling the last time they contemplated that memory, not the memory itself, was “life-changing” for her without going into further detail about her own mother’s experience with the degenerative condition.
She added: “I had never heard that idea before reading it in the script and I was genuinely astonished.
That has altered my life. Really, I don’t like it! I’m trying to persuade myself that it’s not true since I’m extremely dissatisfied in that notion. Yet it’s difficult when things disappear from your or other people’s recollections.
Davis seemed to be thriving in her advanced age as opposed to fearing the condition, which typically affects older people.
The actress said back in 2020 that she believes becoming older has made her smarter and more in tune with who she is.
At the time, she expressed her belief that every year had gotten better. She is now 66 years old. I like how I get better-looking each year. I’ve improved.
My personal mantra is, “If someone can do it, I can do it,” she continued.
Although it seems ambitious, I really think that no matter our age, there are no age-related restrictions on what we may learn or do.
According to the NHS, Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia in the UK. Although the precise etiology of Alzheimer’s disease is not entirely understood, it is believed that a variety of distinct variables enhance a person’s risk of acquiring the disorder, which is linked to a persistent deterioration in brain function.
These elements consist of:
advancing age
a history of the ailment in the family
Untreated depression, despite the fact that depression is one of the signs of Alzheimer’s illness
cardiovascular disease-related diseases and lifestyle factors.
Since the problem is progressing, it is crucial to have a diagnosis as soon as possible, before symptoms worsen. Individuals must be able to recognize the symptoms and indicators of Alzheimer’s disease in order to do this.
The NHS states that a few small memory issues are typically the first significant indicator. Forgetting the names of places and things, as well as recent discussions or events, are examples of this.
Memory issues get more severe as the illness worsens, and additional symptoms, such as:
confusion, disorientation, and getting turned around in locations you know well
planning or decision-making challenges
Speech and language issues Trouble getting around or doing basic self-care duties
Changes in personality, such as being more vindictive, demanding, and wary of people
Delusions & hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) (believing things that are untrue)
low spirits or worry.
Those who have been diagnosed with a condition can utilize medicine to ease some of their symptoms. Moreover, psychological therapies like cognitive stimulation therapy may be provided to support language, problem-solving, and memory abilities.
On Thursday, July 14, at 9:00 p.m., BBC Four will broadcast Thelma and Louise.