Alzheimer’s Disease is one form of dementia and an especially incapacitating condition. Whereas dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability that can interfere with daily life, Alzheimer’s Disease is a specific disease. Neither dementia nor Alzheimer’s is a normal part of aging. What are the stages of Alzheimer’s Disease?
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease. It occurs due to complex brain changes after brain cells are damaged, and symptoms become worse over time. The most common early sign of Alzheimer’s Disease is the inability to retain new information.
As Alzheimer’s progresses, the symptoms become more severe including disorientation, confusion, and changes in the person’s normal behavior. In addition, eating, swallowing, speaking, and walking become more difficult as symptoms get worse.
Other facts include the following:
- There is no known cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s right now.
- There are treatments available that help to slow the progression and reduce some symptoms.
- There is no single cause of Alzheimer’s, but researchers believe it may be a result of genetics, environment, and lifestyle.
- Nearly 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease.
Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
There are several different systems to stage Alzheimer’s. Some include three, others as many as seven.
Stage One – Early or Mild
Most people in this early stage live independently. They may drive, handle money, or be employed. Close relatives may be able to detect some symptoms.
Some common difficulties may include:
- Trouble planning and organizing
- Finding the right word
- Forgetting people’s names after being introduced
- Forgetting something they just read or learned
- Losing or misplacing something valuable
Stage Two – Moderate or Middle Stage
This stage can last for many years. Symptoms include forgetting names of familiar people, trouble remembering events, learning new things, handling anything with steps like making dinner, reading, writing, and working with numbers, paying bills, and managing bank accounts.
In this stage, people may lose track of time or place, become moody in social situations, confused about the day of the week, have difficulty with sleep patterns, and begin to need help choosing what clothing to wear.
As the disease progresses, the person may lose control of their bladder and bowels, have a tendency to wander from home and get lost. Affected people may have behavioral or psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, resistance to care, aggression, delusions, or hallucinations.
Stage Three – Severe or Late Stage
People require extensive care due to difficulty with self-care and trouble with communication. People may:
- Need 24 hour care
- Have difficulty walking, sitting, or even swallowing
- Become more vulnerable to infections like pneumonia
- Be unaware of their own surroundings
Contact Healthspan Partners of SWFL for comprehensive dementia care in southwest Florida. Give us a call at 863-356-1979 today to get started, or schedule a conversation through our secure online form. We see patients throughout Lee County and Collier County.
Sources: Alzheimer’s Stages – Early, Middle, Late Dementia Symptoms | alz.org
Alzheimer’s Disease: The 7 Stages of the Disease (webmd.com)