Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that develops slowly and gradually worsens, usually over several years. It damages memory, thought-making, language, problem solving, and even personality and mobility as the disease advances. While not everyone will experience the same symptoms, and the disease may progress at different rates for each individual, there is the same path that most people follow as the disease advances.
No Dementia
In the first stage of the seven stages, an individual is considered to have no dementia, as symptoms that are commonly associated with aging are typical and usually not noticed by health care providers or family members. It is also known as preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.
Stage 1: No Dementia
In the first stage, people with Alzheimer’s do not have memory impairment without obvious symptoms of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is still not detected at this point. Stage 1 is also often called ‘No Cognitive Decline’.
Stage 2: Very Mild Cognitive Decline
In this stage, people with Alzheimer’s disease start to experience the normal forgetfulness that is linked to aging. They may forget where they left their car keys or bag. These symptoms are usually not noticed by the individual family members or doctors.
Stage 3: Mild Cognitive Decline
Individuals in this stage experience increased forgetfulness and difficulty with focus or concentration. These symptoms can lead to decreased work performance for those in the workforce, or for those who do not hold a job, they may experience decreased performance in tasks such as common house cleaning or paying bills. They may get lost or begin to struggle to find the right words in conversation.
Stage 4: Moderate Cognitive Decline
The fourth stage includes what is medically described as the early stages of dementia. Someone with initial stages of dementia will experience much more forgetfulness, forgetting recent events, as well as difficulty concentrating, difficulty with solving problems, and difficulties managing finances. They may struggle when making their way to an unfamiliar place alone, and also struggle with carrying out complex tasks or getting their thoughts organised. For a Dementia Care Home Bridgwater, visit a site like Notaro Homes.
Mid-Stage Dementia
Stage 5: Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline
Short term memory loss becomes more pronounced in stage five, and the people at this stage of the disease may need help with daily activities such as washing, dressing and preparing meals. Memory deficits in this phase are severe, with people often forget the essential bits of information that affects their daily lives – such as home address or phone number. They may not be able to identify where they are or what time of day it is. This stage lasts, on average, for one and a half years.
Stage 6: Severe Cognitive Decline
Also known as Central Dementia, stage six marks a period in which a person will need substantial help to carry out daily activities. They may have little memory of recent events and forget the names of close friends or family members. Many people in this stage have a limited memory of their previous lives and also trouble completing a task or successfully applying cognitive skills like counting backwards from 10. Care is often required at this stage, such as a Dementia Care Home Bridgwater.
Stage 7: Very Severe Cognitive Decline
Also known as the Late Dementia, stage seven is the final stage in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. At this stage, most people will lose their ability to talk or communicate. A person at this stage will often require help with the majority of their daily tasks, including toileting, feeding, dressing, bathing and other daily activities, around the clock.
