The fact that 99% of all Grey's Anatomy episodes begin and end with a voiceover from Meredith adds to the possibility that each new episode is another memory she previously recorded, or that someone she knows recorded for her. The show always seems to come back to diseases and treatments of the brain, which could be a clue that Meredith's experiences with Alzheimer's or a related condition are only just beginning - and that the show's writers have been tossing out hints for the true ending all along. Even longtime character Richard Weber seemed to be experiencing dementia-like symptoms a few seasons back due to blood poisoning. His sister Amelia is also a neurosurgeon and had a brain tumor, and in the show's 18th season is doing research on Parkinson's, another form of dementia.
Meredith's husband, Derek Shepherd, was a neurosurgeon who ran an Alzheimer's trial at one point and also died of a brain injury. The degenerative disease impacts a person's ability to maintain normal brain function and often manifests in them confusing long-term memories with the present. Large portions of the show have been dedicated to Meredith's fears about her future, especially knowing she's at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's. RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Times Alex Karev Should've Been Fired During His Intern Year The theory suggests that Meredith has already been diagnosed with some form of dementia in the future, and that everything viewers have been witnessing over the past 17 years is a collection of her memories being retold to her later in life. According to another prediction on Reddit, however, this diagnosis may have technically already happened. The Grey's Anatomy fandom has long suspected that the show's ending will tie into the discovery that Meredith has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Even though she might be able to dedicate her entire career to saving lives, she might not be able to escape the deteriorating dementia that runs in her family. When Ellis dies due to complications from her early-onset Alzheimer's in the show's early seasons, Meredith realizes that she and her mother are more alike than she ever could have predicted. Grey's Anatomy began with a focus on a new doctor pursuing a career as a surgeon while also grappling with the fact that she's related to one.
From the guest stars (Christina Ricci! Coach Taylor!) to the more lighthearted moments (who cut the LVAD wire?) to the little TV twists just for added effect (everyone in prom clothes!!!!), these are the storylines that made Grey’s Anatomy a phenomenon, and they’re simply the best.Meredith Grey and her famously accomplished mother Ellis Grey have a lot in common. Both are about flawed men with the best intentions who come into the hospital because something inside of them is broken or wrong, and the attempt to fix it draws in doctors, nurses, and of course, the audience. And both are self-contained, beautifully acted, and heartbreakingly written.
Both stories are about love in the face of uncertainty and hope in the face of death.
Both stories get to the heart of what the series does best: young doctors putting themselves on the line for the sake of a patient, and for the sake of one another. No, this is the season of bomb squad and Izzie/Denny. This season has what I consider to be the two best story arcs in Grey’s history, and neither of them involve Meredith’s relationship with Derek. It even spawned two spin-off series, Private Practice and Station 19. So, obviously, it’s a massive hit that has been running for a decade and a half, attracted a wide and loyal fanbase, and made everyone involved insanely rich. Grey’s Anatomy is nothing short of evil-a scourge, a blight upon our souls. It’s about creating characters that feel so real, you can’t help but come to care about them, and then either killing them, everything they love, or both. Grey’s Anatomy is about what makes us human: our blood, tissue, and bone, as well as our hearts, souls, and minds. Real fans, however, know that Grey’s Anatomy is actually an emotional torture device overseen by the brilliant and sadistic Shonda Rhimes, an agonizing exercise in grief and loss delivered in weekly installments. To an outsider, Grey’s Anatomy is simply an ensemble medical drama about the lives and loves of (good-looking) doctors and surgeons at a prominent Seattle hospital told through the lens of surgeon Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) as she rises in the ranks from intern to resident to attending.