Jim Rogers on love, loss and living well with younger-onset dementia

At the memory clinic, Jim Rogers is asked to reach out and touch his husband's left cheek with his right hand.

Published: 21 June 2025
  • national
  • 21 June 2025
  • Australian Story/ABC

He does the opposite — left hand, right cheek — and Tyler starts crying, because he knows something is very wrong.

Jim, whose life has been shaped by searing loss and serendipitous love, was soon diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease.

"It's the most horrific, evil disease," Jim tells Australian Story, "but you can live well with dementia."