Alzheimers Stages

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia that is very common and typically associated with memory loss, inability to think properly, and cognitive dysfunction. However, not all memory loss can be associated with Alzheimer’s.

Typically, people over the age of 65 are affected, and it is estimated that 26 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease worldwide.

There are a variety of differences between regular forgetfulness and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease, each characterized by its own degree of symptoms.

Alzheimer’s Stages – Stage 1

Stage 1 of Alzheimer’s disease is considered no impairment and is the beginning stage of the disease wherein the patient is asymptomatic and shows no outward signs of the disease.

Alzheimer’s Stages – Stage 2

Stage 2 of Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be a very mild decline in cognitive functioning or impairment; this is typically the stage where the earliest signs of the disease are able to be recognized. People suffering from stage 2 Alzheimer’s disease will experience memory loss, lapses of memory, and find themselves misplacing common and everyday objects. The people suffering these symptoms are aware of them; however doctors and family may be unaware of these symptoms and are usually not able to recognize this stage of Alzheimer’s. At this point, the patient merely believes that their memory is “slipping” due to the aging process and may feel that it is perfectly normal.

Alzheimer’s Stages – Stage 3

Stage 3 of Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be a mild decline in cognitive function. Some people can be diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s at this stage as the symptoms are more readily visible to doctors, family and the patient, too. The most apparent symptoms are the inability to form proper words, forgetting people’s names, losing objects, the inability to be organized, and the inability to retain information after recently reading it. Many Alzheimer’s patients can tell you very clearly the events that transpired fifty years ago, but cannot tell you what they read in this morning’s newspaper.

Alzheimer’s Stages – Stage 4

Stage 4 of Alzheimer’s Disease is considered to be a moderate decline in cognitive function and this stage is actually considered the true beginning stages of Alzheimer’s, although the patient may have had the disease for many months, or even for years. The symptoms are easily seen by doctors and family.

Alzheimer’s Stages – Stage 5

Stage 5 of Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be a more severe decline in cognitive function and this stage is considered the mid-stage of Alzheimer’s symptoms. The patient becomes increasingly unaware of their symptoms and often becomes agitated with the situation. Most Alzheimer’s patients in this stage do not understand that they have the condition, and are confused if the issue is brought up.

Alzheimer’s Stages – Stage 6

Stage 6 of Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be a severe decline in cognitive dysfunction. In this stage the memory loss worsens and daily activities become difficult. Alzheimer’s stage 6 sufferers need round-the-clock supervision.

Alzheimer’s Stages – Stage 7

Stage 7 of Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be the most severe decline in cognitive dysfunction. In this final stage of the disease there is nearly a complete short term and some long term memory loss, and the inability to control motor function and speech becomes apparent. This is considered the end stage of Alzheimer’s stage and is therefore the stage where patients need the most assistance. Some patients benefit greatly from being moved to a facility that specifically cares for Alzheimer’s patients. It becomes increasingly difficult for family to continue to care for these patients.

There are a lot of advantages of assessing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, as the patient can begin a regimen of medication that can help to slow the progress of the disease.