Eight very different people living with dementia. Eight different ways to cope – YouTube, driving tanks, running, painting, television and exercising.

Article by Luke Lewis, Buzzfeed

Eight very different people living with dementia.

Eight different ways to cope:

"I record music videos for YouTube."

"I drive tanks."

"I ran the Monaco 10K."

"I've become a more abstract painter." 

"I get by with a little help from my friends."

"I'm a tv quiz junkie."

"I exercise like an Olympian."

"I am a serial tweeter." 

From Buzzfeed:

John Williams was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in January 2014, at the age of 70. Having dabbled in painting since his 50s, he was surprised to notice his natural technique changing. By the autumn his finely detailed brushstrokes had begun to give way to more abstract portraits; an "altered" style he found he really liked.

"Alzheimer's has changed my style of painting: it hasn't changed my passion for art," he says. "It is a huge part of my life. I find that I seem to spend as much time looking for my brushes and paints as I do on painting. It's very frustrating, but I manage to stay positive. No matter what, I'll carry on with my art as long as I can hold a paintbrush. I always keep a smile on my face because I've had a good life, and it's not over yet.

Read 7 more uplifting stories in Buzzfeed's article "8 Uplifting Tales of Coping with Dementia."

Photo: Rebecca Hendin for Buzzfeed.