I Can Still Laugh: Stories of Inspiration and Hope from Individuals Living with Alzheimer's

Thirteen men and women reveal their personal struggles with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Remarkably, every one of them finds ways to minimize the effects of their illness and continue to live exciting, active lives. Their mission is to make themselves – and everyone else around them – forget the notion that life ends with a diagnosis. Their secret to doing so lies in concentrating on strengths, not weaknesses, an approach they have learned at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas, where these individuals participate in the Stark Club, a special group that meets regularly to challenge, inspire and support one another. Their experiences demonstrate how individuals diagnosed with dementia can reframe their thoughts and actions to make a positive difference in the way they live with their impairments. The brave individuals of these stories are proving that life goes on and all is not lost because, in their words, “I can still laugh.”