Extraordinary abilities, creativity, and love, in the path of dementia: a perspective article on the Walking the Talk for Dementia 2025 initiative

This manuscript, co-created by researchers and people living with dementia and their care partners, explores how engagement with lived experience can transform conventional, deficit-based understandings of dementia-often defined by what is lost. While clinically useful, this framing can obscure the richness, resilience, and relational depth present in the lives of people living with dementia. Drawing on a collaborative and reflective process inspired by participation in Walking the Talk for Dementia 2025-a global immersive event that brought together people with lived experience of dementia, researchers, advocates, clinicians, and artists-the paper challenges traditional narratives of dementia. Through in-person and virtual discussions and documented reflections, the team conducted a qualitative thematic analysis to identify key insights. Three themes emerged: (1) 'Dementia Reimagined', highlighting personal and professional transformation and new identities; (2) 'Flourishing through Creativity and Resilience', illustrating humor, creativity, leadership, and authentic connection; and (3) 'Dementia as a Catalyst for Love and Understanding', emphasizing enduring love and deepened empathy within families and communities. These findings demonstrate that living with dementia can foster resilience, creativity, and meaningful human connection. This experiential, co-produced approach reframes dementia beyond deficit-based models, offering transformative insights that can inform person-centered care practices, policy development, and increase awareness.