Living Well with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s: Peter Berry’s Remarkable 10-Year Journey

 

 

By Marianne Sciucco, New York, USA

This replay of a Books and Chit Chat discussion brought together two remarkable friends—Peter Berry and Deb Bunt—for a conversation that was as inspiring as it was deeply honest. Hosted by Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates, the discussion explored not only the personal journeys and books of Peter and Deb, but also the profound insights they’ve gained into living well with dementia.

From Despair to Advocacy: Peter’s Story

Peter Berry’s journey began with a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 50. As a successful business owner, he was shocked—and initially devastated—by the news. He shares openly about the dark period following his diagnosis, describing it as “a year of hell,” marked by depression and even suicide attempts. What’s remarkable, though, is how Peter transformed that despair into a renewed sense of purpose. Inspired by both his own experience and his father’s long journey with Alzheimer’s, Peter resolved to become a source of hope and understanding for others facing similar challenges.

Finding Friendship and Mutual Support

Enter Deb Bunt, Peter’s cycling buddy-turned-co-author and close friend. Their relationship is a beautiful demonstration of how support doesn’t just flow one way. As Deb and Peter describe it, they each bring unique strengths to the friendship: Deb provides companionship and boundless camaraderie, while Peter offers technical know-how and navigational skills. Together, they reinforce the idea that living well with dementia is as much about mutual support and meaning as it is about medical care.

This mutuality spills into their advocacy efforts—travelling throughout the UK, speaking at events, and writing books together. Their connection is also a lifeline for their families: “We all need that feeling of being needed… and we get back to that word, support,” Peter reflects.

Writing from the Heart

Their creative journey produced two books so far: Slow Puncture, a memoir-style account of Peter’s life post-diagnosis, and Walk With Me: Musings Through the Dementia Fog, a collection of Peter’s raw and poetic reflections. Deb explained how Peter’s poetic descriptions became the muse for her own long-harbored ambitions to write, and how collecting Peter’s texts and turning them into a book gave both of them a sense of validation and purpose.

These works don’t just recount Peter’s experiences; they offer a window into his emotional landscape—with metaphors that make the inexplicable aspects of dementia relatable. For Peter, cycling is like “a balloon that takes me high into the sky”—a momentary escape from the limitations of his diagnosis.

Changing Minds, Shifting Stigma

Peter’s candor about dementia shatters stereotypes. Sharing his story has opened minds—not just among family and friends but professionals too. Their talks with medical teams, care homes, and general practitioners prompted many to rethink their assumptions about what people living with dementia can do—and need—in order to thrive.

An especially moving anecdote was Peter’s participation in Channel 4’s “The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes”—a social experiment proving that, with the right support, people with dementia could work, collaborate, and thrive. The experience taught everyone involved, especially the film crew, just how limited and out-of-date most ‘training’ in dementia truly is.

Why Sharing Matters

Peter and Deb are strong advocates for openness—encouraging others to share their diagnoses rather than struggle in secret. “If people are in the loop, they can help. It’s as simple as that,” Peter says. Though some friends and relatives struggled, the overwhelming outcome was one of increased support and understanding.

Living with Purpose

Whether it’s cycling 30 miles before an interview, writing poetry, or just being a good friend, Peter lives by example: “Doing something—even if it’s resting with a crossword puzzle—keeps my mind and body healthy. It is really important not to do nothing.” Deb echoes the importance of engagement, stressing that giving and receiving support is at the heart of a meaningful life.

Final Reflections

The conversation with Peter and Deb is a testament to the power of friendship, honesty, creativity, and resilience in the face of dementia. Instead of allowing the “wrecking ball” of diagnosis to flatten their spirits, they’ve built a castle—one filled with laughter, learning, and connection.

For anyone navigating a dementia journey—whether as a person living with the diagnosis or as a caregiver—their story is proof that it’s possible to find hope, joy, and purpose, even in the most unexpected places.

Read their books

• Slow Puncture
• Walk With Me

Read their AlzAuthors posts

Slow Puncture: a Memoir About Living Well with Early Onset Alzheimer’s by Peter Berry and Deb Bunt

Peter Berry Who Lives with Dementia Shares His Poetry in: Walk With Me, Compiled by Deb Bunt

So Much To Say: Peter Berry Tells His Story While He Can

Listen to their podcasts

Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Living with Dementia, part 2

Watch “The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes”