What Does Stage 2 Look Like
The second stage of the FAST Scale is defined as normal aged forgetfulness. This manifests in memory lapses like forgetting the name of acquaintances or misplacing items like car keys or glasses. Individuals may experience some difficulty concentrating and sometimes struggle to find the right words. According to experts, Stage 2 can also be considered normal for senior adults.
Stage : Moderately Severe Decline
Your loved one might start to lose track of where they are and what time it is. They might have trouble remembering their address, phone number, or where they went to school. They could get confused about what kind of clothes to wear for the day or season.
You can help by laying out their clothing in the morning. It can help them dress by themselves and keep a sense of independence.
If they repeat the same question, answer with an even, reassuring voice. They might be asking the question less to get an answer and more to just know you’re there.
Even if your loved one can’t remember facts and details, they might still be able to tell a story. Invite them to use their imagination at those times.
Stage : Severe Mental Decline/moderately Severe Dementiaquality Of Life: Severe Impact
Your loved one will not remember much or any of the past and may not recognize you and other family and friends. He or she may have trouble making healthcare decisions. You may need 24-hour care in the home for day-to-day activities. You may see your loved one:
- Show strong personality changes and mood swings.
- Have delusions, such as thinking it is time to go to work when there is no job.
- Not be able to use the toilet or get dressed without help.
- Getting lost or wandering off.
- Have problems sleeping at night but sleep during the day.
- Lack of awareness of events and experiences.
- Changes in eating habits.
Help the health care team follow your loved ones care preferences. You can:
- Help with dressing, toileting, and other daily activities.
- Continue to try to connect with your loved one. Sometimes connecting in ways other than talking can help, such as listening to music or reading a story.
- Respond with patience.
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The Last Stages Of Alzheimers
As a person approaches end stage Alzheimers, symptoms become severe. Due to extensive damage to the nerve cells in the brain, an individual begins experiencing severe decline in vocabulary, emotions and the ability to control their movement. As a person moves through these final stages, they increasingly lose touch with their external environment, and it becomes more difficult to respond. They will find it difficult to carry on a conversation or even to control their bodily movement, eventually requiring around-the-clock assistance to perform everyday tasks.
Understanding The 7 Stages Of Alzheimers Disease
When your parent, grandparent or partner receives an Alzheimers diagnosis, its natural to wonder what to expect over the coming months and years. What will be the first outward signs of the disease? How soon will your loved one require daily care? Will they start losing memories right away, or will that process happen more gradually?
Although Alzheimers affects the brains of different people in different ways, caregivers often divide the diseases progress into three general phases: early-stage, middle-stage, and late-stage. However, many medical professionals use the more precise Global Deterioration Scale developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg at New York University which divides Alzheimers-related cognitive decline into seven stages .
Some of these levels can overlap but even so, a clearer understanding of the GDS as a whole will help you adapt your care to your loved ones changing needs, and prepare for the stages to come. So lets take a closer look at Reisbergs system.
Stage 1: Normal
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Changes In Behaviour And Sharpness
The second stage of FTD is still very early in the conditions progression and may only display mild changes. As with lots of diseases that affect the behaviours and nuances of a persons personality, most wouldnt attribute it to a medical issue. As people get older, its not uncommon for them to stumble over their words, struggle with phrases, or even forget things, so dementia in all forms can be difficult to pick up on in the early stages.
However, those close to someone with FTD may well notice subtleties in their behaviour and overall sharpness. For example, some find it difficult to find the right words to say at times, whereas others lack the cognitive thought to substitute one word for another. While this may be frustrating and worrying. Such difficulties at an early stage can be crucial in recognising FTD. Additionally, unusual or anti-social behaviour can begin to impact a persons social and professional life.
Stage : Before Symptoms
Like most other medical conditions, there are changes made in the body before symptoms appear. In the case of Alzheimers, certain brain changes occur about 10-15 years before symptoms start. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this stage of Alzheimers, so regular primary care visits are recommended to determine when symptoms start.
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Seven Stages Of Alzheimers Disease:
Stage 1: No Impairment
There is no trace of Alzheimers in the brain and youre probably fairly fit, active and enjoying life however youve chosen to live it. Youre able to recall happy, joyful memories and can pinpoint where you left your keys every single morning. Family and friends are a massive part of your life and you probably are enjoying an early retirement, or may still be working hard in order to keep your brain active for longer.
Stage 2: Very Mild Decline
You may, or may not begin to notice youre getting a little forgetful. Youre sure you left your keys on the hall table but your husband insists theyre actually in your jacket pocket. After a quick look, you realise theyre right and wonder why you left them there but dismiss it quickly. You laugh and make a quip, memorys not what it used to be and you smile and carry on with your day. Youre still able to recall events and are leading an active, healthy normal life. A routine check-up indicates everythings A-OK and you perform well on a memory test quiz.
Stage 3: Mild Decline
They might not have said anything yet but your family is getting a tad worried. Youve noticed yourself that youve become a bit more forgetful you almost left your purse in a coffee shop last week and totally blanked on putting your bins out on recycling day. Youre sure the BBQ was next Saturday, in fact, youd have bet money on it but it turns out its this weekend and now youre flustered.
Stage 4: Moderate Decline
Caregiving In The Early Stages
Although most of your loved ones immediate medical needs can be managed on their own in the early stages, you may need to assist with tasks associated with memory or problem-solving. You may need to remind them of their doctors appointments and to set up the next appointment, along with taking their medications on time and getting refills as needed. You may need to assist them in managing their finances and keeping up with social and work obligations. At times, they may also need help remembering places, people, words, and names. In the early stages, you will want to encourage them to:
- Maintain their independence
- Establish a routine to delay the disease from worsening
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Stage : Mild Cognitive Impairment
Persons at this stage manifest deficits which are subtle, but which are noted by persons who are closely associated with the person with mild cognitive impairment. The subtle deficits may become manifest in diverse ways. For example, a person with mild cognitive impairment may noticeably repeat queries. The capacity to perform executive functions also becomes compromised. Commonly, for persons who are still working in complex occupational settings, job performance may decline. For those required to master new job skills, such as a computer or other machinery, decrements in these capacities may become evident.
MCI persons who are not employed, but who plan complex social events, such as dinner parties, may manifest declines in their ability to organize such events. This may be an early stage of Alzheimers, however, it is important for the person to seek medical help as soon as possible, to determine if a broad variety of medical conditions may be causing or contributing to the persons difficulties. Blood tests and an MRI of the brain should be obtained to assist in determining if the individual has MCI due to Alzheimers and whether there are other causes or contributing conditions to the persons cognitive decline.
Some MCI persons may manifest concentration deficits. Many persons with these symptoms begin to experience anxiety, which may be overtly evident.
Very Mild Impairment Or Common Forgetfulness
Alzheimers disease mainly affects older adults over the age of 65. At this age, its common to have slight functional difficulties such as forgetfulness.
But for people with stage 2 Alzheimers, this decline will happen more quickly than it will for similarly aged people without Alzheimers. For example, a person may forget familiar words, a family members name, or where they placed something.
Caregiver support: Symptoms at stage 2 wont interfere with work or social activities. Memory troubles are still very mild and may not be apparent to friends and family.
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What Does Stage 3 Look Like
At this stage, the individual starts showing subtle signs of mild cognitive impairment that may only be noticeable to close friends and family. For example, someone may start repeating questions or telling a story over and over. If the individual is still in the workforce, their ability to perform their job will start to decline. Concentration becomes more difficult, and the person may be unable to perform overly complex tasks like organizing a party or doing their own taxes.
Frontotemporal Dementia Treatment At Dementech Neurosciences
If you or someone you know is showing signs of frontotemporal dementia or has been diagnosed and requires additional insight, the experts at our leading London private memory clinic can help. We have years of experience in dealing with FTD and can provide a fast diagnosis and bespoke treatment plan, making use of our state-of-the-art facilities and access to things like clinical trials not available on the NHS. We offer rapid testing and lots of different treatment options, including medication, speech therapy, physiotherapy to help with physical symptoms, and support for relatives of those with FTD.
Please get in touch with our helpful team of specialists to discuss your options and the next steps.
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Stage : Moderately Severe Alzheimers
In stage five, major memory deficiencies begin to further affect ones daily life. At this stage, a person will often begin to forget details about themselves, such as their address or phone number. They may also lose their orientation to space and time more frequently. At this stage, a person may begin requiring additional assistance with basic daily tasks, such as getting dressed and preparing meals. They will, however, often retain functionality in other areas of their lives for example, they may still be able to bathe and use the bathroom independently. They will also likely still remember their loved ones and much of their personal history, including childhood.
Common Difficulties of Moderately Severe Alzheimers
- Losing track of where they are, and what time it is
- Trouble remembering personal details, such as address and phone number
- Difficulty with everyday tasks, such as getting dressed, eating and preparing meals
- Daytime and nighttime confusion, or trouble sleeping
What Are The Risk Factors For Vascular Dementia
Because vascular dementia commonly occurs as a result of conditions that damage blood vessels in the brain, the risk factors for this type of dementia are similar to stroke or heart disease.
These risks include:
- Adults aged 65 or older
- History of heart attack or stroke
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal aging of blood vessels
- Atrial fibrillation
Brain and heart health are strongly connected.
Those at risk of developing vascular dementia can reduce their risk by quitting smoking, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and working with a doctor to maintain any health issues.
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Stage : Moderate Changes/mild Dementiaquality Of Life: Very Little Impact
Your loved one will remember all or most of his or her past and will recognize loved ones. You have the ability to make your own healthcare decisions. You may see your loved one:
- Forget familiar words and names of items.
- Forget where things were left, like their eyeglasses or phone.
- Have some trouble with daily tasks such as laundry, cooking and shopping.
- Make more mistakes with driving and feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar places.
- Have trouble Increased trouble with keeping up with finances
- Be unable to find the right words more often
- Increased difficulties with problem solving
How You Can Help:
If you havent already done it, help your loved one plan for when he or she might have severe dementia. Use our tools to create a document that lists care values and priorities at different stages of dementia.
If you have, help the health care team follow your loved ones care preferences.
You can also:
What To Do Next After Learning What Stage Of Alzheimer’s Disease Your Loved One Is In
As mentioned, learning about the stage of Alzheimers disease that a loved one is experiencing helps provide perspective and context. This knowledge makes it easier to have conversations with doctors about the patients condition and how to approach future treatment options. Understanding the later stages of the disease also helps when planning for lifestyle changes, new equipment, and other items that may be needed. One of the other major benefits in understanding the overall progression of Alzheimers disease is preparing for future living arrangements, such a memory care community, that could become a preferred option during later stages of the disease. Because the cost of dementia care is high, families should begin planning as soon as possible following a diagnosis.
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How Can The Fast Scale Help Determine What Type Of Dementia My Loved One Has
One interesting thing about the FAST Scale is that, if the individual has Alzheimers disease, any changes they experience will be in sequence that is, FAST stages wont be skipped over. If the individual loses certain abilities listed at a later stage but still retain abilities from an earlier stage . This is incredibly helpful, because it means their situation can potentially be treatable.
What Does Stage 4 Look Like
Stage 4 is when most individuals with dementia are diagnosed because signs of cognitive impairment become glaringly evident. The individual starts forgetting recent or major events, or has trouble remembering what month or year it is. While individuals still have a good level of independence at this stage and can remember things like their phone number, address and basic tasks, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to handle things like paying bills or fixing meals. At this stage, the senior is considered to be in the early stages of dementia.
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Third Dementia Stage: Mild Decline
Family and friends may start noticing some cognitive and memory problems from the patient at the third dementia stage. Performance on both cognitive and memory tests is affected, and physicians can instantly identify impaired cognitive function. Senior citizens at third stage of dementia showcase some symptoms that may include:
- Trouble remembering names of people they meet
- Organizing and planning
- Asking the same question repeatedly
- Losing personal possessions which might include valuables
It is possible that affected adults can begin to experience mild or moderate anxiety during the third stage of dementia, primarily because of the symptoms getting in the way of their everyday life. Should one notice any of the symptoms, it is imperative that the affected individuals go through a clinical interview with a licensed clinician to receive the proper diagnosis. It helps to start an appropriate medical course of action.
Caregivers should also note that it is essential that they try and get rid of any stress that may be affecting the patient. Let them understand what is going on in a kind and loving manner so that they can prepare to embrace the journey ahead. They can also help the patients with memory in some ways such as reminding them to pay their bills and getting them to any appointments they may have on time.
How Do You Know What Stage Of Alzheimer’s Disease A Loved One Is In
The stages of Alzheimers disease presented in this post offer a reasonable framework from which to observe symptoms and understand the progression of the disease. Since there is no medical consensus for Alzheimers stages, as there is with cancer, it is important for caregivers to be aware of the individual symptoms and situation that their patient or loved one is experiencing. While healthcare providers may refer to a patients condition as late or early stage, any specific stage is less important than the context and understanding of what this means for care going forward.
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Stage : Trouble Finding Or Understand Words
Stage 4 is similar to stage 3 but with a little more severity. Your loved one may require an in-house care assistant to chauffeur them to appointments, keep the house tidy, help them manage their bills and finances, and even safely navigate stairs or other hazardous parts of the home.
If possible, it could be the right time to get your loved one into a new home with fewer obstacles, or even a senior living community where these tasks can be easier to manage.