Forgetfulness, difficulty recalling facts and details – these are some of the changes that come with aging. However, when a loss of memory becomes more serious and more concerning, it likely isn’t a normal part of aging. It can be Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that affects many people over the age of 65. If you’re interested in learning about Alzheimer’s, you can search online.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and it makes up as many as 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases. And when Alzheimer’s begins, it might be difficult to detect. That’s why it’s so important to be informed about the stages of this disease. You can search online to learn more about how Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
Here’s how Alzheimer’s disease begins and what it looks like over time.
Alzheimer’s is a Progressive Disease
Unlike many health conditions, Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t get better with time or medication. It’s a progressive disease, which means its symptoms and effects get worse over time.
Alzheimer’s can progress at different speeds. It varies from person to person, stage to stage. But the end result is commonly the same. In the late stages of Alzheimer’s, sufferers lose the ability to carry on conversations, respond to the surrounding environment, and care for themselves. And unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in America. Once it begins, the average person lives four to eight years.
That’s why it’s important to recognize the changes and stages of this condition. As it progresses, it can look differently.
What Each Stage Looks Like
Alzheimer’s disease and its effects change over time. This means that those who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s will change too, and so will their capabilities. Here’s what the stages of Alzheimer’s typically look like.
Stage 1: Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease
This is the earliest stage. Typically, there are no symptoms and no noticeable effects at this early point. Your doctor may discuss your risk for Alzheimer’s based on your family history or biomarkers that they find. However, you’ll be fully independent, and you likely won’t even realize you have Alzheimer’s disease.
Stage 2: Very Mild Impairment
The second stage of Alzheimer’s disease often brings forgetfulness. This forgetfulness is different from old age forgetfulness, though, Alzheimer’s sufferers tend to forget familiar words, family members’ names, or where items are located.
At this point, symptoms won’t yet interfere with your daily life. You’ll be able to carry on normally with work and your social life. Your forgetfulness will be mild – others might not even notice any change.
Stage 3: Mild Impairment and Decline
At the next stage, Alzheimer’s begins to cause more significant memory problems. This stage typically lasts about seven years, but symptoms really become clear over a period of two to four years.
It’s likely that people close to you will start noticing that you’re having symptoms. Changes and signs of this stage include:
- A decline in your work quality.
- Difficulty learning new skills.
- Getting lost on familiar routes.
- Struggling to remember the right words or names.
- Difficulty remembering things you just read.
- Forgetting new names and new people.
- Misplacing or losing items.
- Struggling to concentrate.
Many people suffer anxiety and denial at this stage. It’s difficult to begin coping with the changes Alzheimer’s is bringing, and it can particularly challenge your work life.
Stage 4: Mild to Moderate Decline
It’s during stage four that most Alzheimer’s disease sufferers are officially diagnosed. This stage, which lasts about two years, is typically the start of symptoms that are diagnosable. Unfortunately, it’s also the stage in which the disease becomes much more challenging.
When Alzheimer’s progresses during this stage, you’ll begin having trouble with complex everyday tasks. You might struggle with awareness of current or recent events, begin losing your memory of your own personal history, and struggle to handle your finances and bills. This can lead to mood changes like withdrawing from your life and denying your symptoms.
Stage 5: Moderate Dementia
During this stage, Alzheimer’s sufferers will begin requiring more support and care. You’ll still remember your own name and the names of close family members, but other information will be difficult to recall. Major events, weather conditions, and even your address can be hard to remember. Difficulty understanding current time and place can also lead to confusion.
At this point, Alzheimer’s makes it difficult to live an independent life. You’ll need help with everyday tasks, from choosing clothing to managing your finances.
Stage 6: Moderately Severe Alzheimer’s
Five identifiable characteristics develop over the course of about two and a half years during stage six. These include:
- Unable to choose or put on clothes.
- A decline in oral hygiene.
- Forgetting to flush after using the bathroom.
- Forgetting to throw trash away.
- Beginning to lose control of the bladder and bowels.
Memory becomes much worse during this stage. You’ll begin to confuse family members with other people, and your personality can change. You might experience a fear of being alone, fidgeting, frustration, suspicion, or even paranoia.
Stage 7: Severe Alzheimer’s
This is the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease. It lasts between one to one and a half years, and it brings a significant change. At this point, speech is typically limited to about six words – and as this stage progresses, it can become limited to just one word or disappear completely. You’ll struggle to sit up independently, facial movements will change, and holding your head up on your own will be difficult.
At this point, Alzheimer’s sufferers need help with everything. Body movements aren’t just difficult, but they become rigid and cause severe pain. Muscles, tendons, and tissues can harden and shorten into contractures. And immobility is common.
Can Alzheimer’s Disease Be Treated?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Because Alzheimer’s is a complex disease, one drug or one course of treatment cannot successfully treat it. Instead, doctors focus on treatment approaches that help individuals maintain mental function, manage behavioral changes, and slow down the symptoms.
And some medications can work well for individuals with early or middle stage Alzheimer’s disease. They can slow down certain symptoms, like memory loss, for a length of time. But it’s important to remember that currently, there is no cure and no way to stop this disease from progressing.