Sarah Rafferty recalls alarming moment amid father’s Alzheimer’s battle

Sarah Rafferty has opened up about her family’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease, describing the emotional toll of watching her father and grandmother live with the condition.

The Suits alum, 53, discussed their diagnoses in an interview with PEOPLE published on October 20, explaining how the experience has influenced her approach to brain health and raising awareness about early symptoms.

“It was really hard to watch my beloved grandmother and my father struggle through this,” Rafferty said. “It’s scary.”

According to the actress, her father was his mother’s primary caregiver after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He received his own diagnosis shortly after his mother died.

Rafferty also recalled an incident when her father lost his way while driving home from a familiar neighbourhood location. The experience alarmed the family and highlighted the challenges of recognising changes in memory and thinking.

Her father, now 90, is still alive. Reflecting on his journey, Rafferty described the experience as “a very long goodbye” and said it remained difficult to think about.

The actress said stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and memory problems had previously made conversations about brain health challenging. She added that families sometimes mistake early symptoms for normal signs of ageing.

Rafferty is now partnering with Eli Lilly and Company to raise awareness of early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease and encourage people to speak with healthcare professionals about symptoms and available treatment options. The campaign highlights Kisunla, a treatment designed to slow disease progression in eligible patients.

The actress also said her family’s experience had encouraged her to prioritise her own brain health. She focuses on exercise, healthy eating, stress reduction and adequate sleep.

Rafferty urged families to discuss cognitive changes with doctors sooner rather than later, noting that early action can help people explore available options.

Her message highlights the importance of recognising potential Alzheimer’s symptoms and seeking medical guidance rather than dismissing changes in memory as part of ageing.