Stages of Alzheimer’s
by:
Lynn
Early-stage Alzheimer’s (mild)
In early-stage Alzheimer’s, others notice deficiencies and problems can be measured in a clinical setting. Difficulties include:
- Word or name-finding problems
- Performance issues in social or work settings noticeable
- Reading a passage and retaining little material
- Decline in ability to plan or organize
Early-stage Alzheimer’s (moderate)
- Decreased knowledge of recent occasions or current events
- Decreased ability to pay bills and manage finances
- Reduced memory of personal history
- May seem subdued and withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations
Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer’s
- Major gaps in memory and deficits in cognitive function
- May be unable to recall such important details as their current address, their telephone number or the name of the college they went to
- Confused about where they are
- Need help choosing proper clothing for occasion or season
- Usually know their own names and names of their spouses or children
- USUALLY require no assistance with eating or toileting
Moderately severe Alzheimer’s
- Memory difficulties continue to worsen, significant personality changes may emerge and need help with customary daily activities
- Individuals may lose most awareness of recent experiences as well as their surroundings
- Occasionally forget the name of their spouse or primary caregiver, but usually can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar faces
- Need help getting dressed, may make errors like putting pajamas over daytime clothes
- Experience disruption of their normal sleep/waking cycles
- Need help handling toileting details (flushing toilet, wiping and disposing of tissue properly)
- Have increased episodes of incontinence
- Experience significant personality changes and behavioral symptoms, including suspiciousness and delusions (for example, believing that the caregiver is not to be trusted); hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there); or compulsive, repetitive behavior, such as hand-wringing or tissue shredding
- Tend to wander and become lost
Late stage Alzheimer’s
- Individuals lose their ability to respond to their environment, the ability to speak and ultimately the ability to control movement
- Frequently individuals lose their capacity for recognizable speech, although words or phrases may occasionally be uttered
- Individuals need help with eating and toileting and there is generally incontinence of urine
- Individuals lose their ability to walk without assistance, then the ability to sit without support, the ability to smile, the ability to hold their head up. Reflexes become abnormal and muscles grow rigid. Swallowing is impaired.