Alzheimer’s Symptoms And Stages

Risk Factors Associated With Alzheimers Disease

There are a few things that may make people more likely to get Alzheimers. So far, research has linked the disease with:

Age

Your risk for Alzheimers goes up as you get older. For most people, it starts going up after age 65. The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimers and other dementias is increasing age, but these disorders are not a normal part of aging. While age increases risk, it is not a direct cause of Alzheimers.

Family history

People who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimers are more likely to get it themselves. The risk increases if more than one family member has the illness. When diseases tend to run in families, either heredity , environmental factors, or both, may play a role.

Genetics

Scientists know genes are involved in Alzheimers. Two categories of genes influence whether a person develops a disease: risk genes and deterministic genes. Alzheimers genes have been found in both categories. It is estimated that less than 1% of Alzheimers cases are caused by deterministic genes .

Down syndrome

Its not clear why, but people with this disorder often get Alzheimers disease in their 30s and 40s. Advances in function, well-being and life span for people with Down syndrome have revealed an additional health risk: As they age, individuals affected by Down syndrome have a greatly increased risk of developing a type of dementia thats either the same as or very similar to Alzheimers disease.

Alzheimers Disease: Signs Symptoms Stages And Treatment Options

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimers disease, says the Alzheimers Foundation of America1. Its the most common form of dementia, which is a broad term for conditions that negatively affect memory, thinking and behavior, reports Healthline2. From understanding the stages of Alzheimers disease to considering treatment options, heres what you may want to know about this disease.

Mild Alzheimers Or Moderate Decline

Stage 4 lasts about 2 years and marks the beginning of diagnosable Alzheimers disease. You or your loved one will have more trouble with complex but everyday tasks. Mood changes such as withdrawal and denial are more evident. Decreased emotional response is also frequent, especially in challenging situations.

New symptoms of decline that appear in stage 4 may include:

• losing memory of personal history
• trouble with handling finances and bills
• inability to count backward from 100 by 7s

A clinician will also look for a decline in areas mentioned in stage 3, but there will often have been no change since then.

Caregiver support: Itll still be possible for someone to recall weather conditions, important events, and addresses. But they may ask for help with other tasks such as writing checks, ordering food, and buying groceries.

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What Are The 7 Main Stages Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimers disease is a form of dementia that impacts a persons memory, thinking and behavior. Over time, symptoms of the disease grow severe enough to interfere with daily life. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimers today. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to almost 14 million.

As people progress through the stages of Alzheimers disease, they become less capable of taking care of themselves. As a result, loved ones or paid caretakers have to take on the responsibility. In the United States, more than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimers or other types of dementia.

How quickly Alzheimers disease progresses varies for each person, but it can range from 4 to 20 years. On average, most individuals live for 4-8 years after their diagnosis. Alzheimers disease is challenging both for the individual and their loved ones. Having an understanding of whats to come can help everyone prepare themselves as much as possible. There are seven recognized stages of Alzheimers disease that clearly illustrate how a person progresses through the condition.

Stage : Moderate Cognitive Decline

In this stage, the person will exhibit a definitive decline in cognitive ability in a clinical interview.

Some of the symptoms of this stage may include:

• Lack of knowledge of current and recent events
• Difficulty remembering parts of their own personal history
• Trouble with organizing, planning, traveling, and managing finances

At this stage, the person will likely still be able to recognize loved ones names and faces, and be able to navigate familiar places. However, they may start to avoid challenging situations in order to prevent anxiety and hide their distress from others.

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Symptoms Of Moderate Alzheimers Disease

• Memory loss, confusion, and an inability to learn new things
• Language problems with reading, writing, and organizing thoughts
• Problems thinking logically, working with numbers, or paying attention
• Inability to complete tasks like getting dressed or preparing food
• Impulsive inappropriate behaviors like undressing or using vulgar language in public
• Developing delusions or paranoia, failing to recognize or trust family, friends, and familiar people
• Hallucinations, restlessness, wandering, and outbursts of anger that may be expressed physically
• Muscle twitches and repetitive movements

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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Symptoms Of Alzheimers Disease: The Common And The Beyond

As a progressive disease, the symptoms vary and change depending on which stage it is in. The common symptoms and early signs of Alzheimers include memory loss, difficulty with reasoning, speaking, reading, writing problems, time and place confusion, etc.

However, as Andrea Atkins writes about Alzheimers symptoms, they may go beyond the commonly known ones. In her write-up, she details the surprising symptoms of Alzheimers, as mentioned by Dr. George Perry, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Alzheimers Disease and Dean of the College of Sciences at the University of Texas.

Stage : Subjective Memory Lossage Related Forgetfulness

Many people over the age of 65 complain of cognitive and/or functional difficulties. Elderly persons with these symptoms report that they can no longer remember names as easily as they could 5 or 10 years previously they can also have trouble recalling where they have recently placed things.

Various terms have been suggested for this condition, but subjective cognitive decline is presently the widely accepted terminology. These symptoms by definition, are not notable to intimates or other external observers of the person with subjective cognitive decline. Persons with these symptoms decline at higher rates than similarly aged persons and similarly healthy persons who are free of subjective complaints. Research has shown that this stage of subjective cognitive decline lasts 15 years in otherwise healthy persons.

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The 3 Stages Of Alzheimer’s: What To Expect And What To Do

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, you are likely experiencing many different emotions including shock, fear, sadness, and worry. Knowing what to expect and how to plan ahead can provide a sense of control and important peace of mind. Alzheimers disease has three stages: early , middle , and late . Here is what to expect and what to do during each of them.

Why Is Dementia Progressive

Dementia is not a single condition. It is caused by different physical diseases of the brain, for example Alzheimers disease, vascular dementia, DLB and FTD.

In the early stage of all types of dementia only a small part of the brain is damaged. In this stage, a person has fewer symptoms as only the abilities that depend on the damaged part of the brain are affected. These early symptoms are usually relatively minor. This is why mild dementia is used as an alternative term for the early stage.

Each type of dementia affects a different area of the brain in the early stages. This is why symptoms vary between the different types. For example, memory loss is common in early-stage Alzheimers but is very uncommon in early-stage FTD.

As dementia progresses into the middle and later stages, the symptoms of the different dementia types tend to become more similar. This is because more of the brain is affected as dementia progresses.

Over time, the disease causing the dementia spreads to other parts of the brain. This leads to more symptoms because more of the brain is unable to work properly. At the same time, already-damaged areas of the brain become even more affected, causing symptoms the person already has to get worse.

Eventually most parts of the brain are badly damaged by the disease. This causes major changes in all aspects of memory, thinking, language, emotions and behaviour, as well as physical problems.

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Symptoms Of Severe Alzheimers Disease

• Inability to communicate clearly, may be limited to groaning, moaning, or grunting
• Weight loss, skin infections, seizures, loss of mobility
• Difficulty swallowing, which leads to an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia from accidentally inhaling food or liquids
• Inability to eat, dress, or use the bathroom without assistance
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

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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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.

Stage : Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline

From this stage onward, the person may no longer be able to function without some assistance.

These are some of the symptoms of this stage:

• Difficulty recalling an important detail such as their address, phone number, or high school
• Disorientation in terms of place and time, such as confusion regarding the season, date, day of the week, or time of day
• Difficulty counting backward from 20 by 2s or from 40s by 4s
• Trouble with making decisions

In this stage, the person can likely still remember their own name and the names of their spouse and children, but they may struggle with recalling the names of their grandchildren. They may be able to eat and use the bathroom without assistance, but may need help with tasks such as deciding what to wear.

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What To Expect In The Late Stages Of Alzheimers Disease

As Alzheimers advances into the later stages, caregivers and family members can expect quite a few new symptoms of the disease. Fortunately, being prepared now can help people better cope with the challenges of the late stages of Alzheimers.

Although the disease doesnt affect every person the same way, informed caregivers can often reduce later stage crisis. Read our list of the symptoms to expect in the late stages of Alzheimers to better prepare for tomorrow, today.

See The Signs Of Alzheimers Disease

Most people are diagnosed with the disease after age 65, notes Healthline3. A lot of times, people associate Alzheimers disease with forgetfulness. But this disease goes beyond that. People with Alzheimers disease have certain behaviors and symptoms that can worsen over time. Healthline4 shares what these symptoms are:

• Memory loss that affects daily and routine activities, from keeping appointments to using a microwave
• Struggles with problem-solving
• Not wanting to spend time with friends, family and community

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Emotion And Behavior Treatments

The emotional and behavioral changes linked with Alzheimers disease can be challenging to manage. People may increasingly experience irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, sleep problems, and other difficulties.

Treating the underlying causes of these changes can be helpful. Some may be side effects of medications, discomfort from other medical conditions, or problems with hearing or vision.

Identifying what triggered these behaviors and avoiding or changing these things can help people deal with the changes. Triggers may include changing environments, new caregivers, or being asked to bathe or change clothes.

It is often possible to change the environment to resolve obstacles and boost the persons comfort, security, and peace of mind.

The Alzheimers Association offer a list of helpful coping tips for caregivers.

In some cases, a doctor may recommend medications for these symptoms, such as:

• antidepressants, for low mood

develops due to the death of brain cells. It is a neurodegenerative condition, which means that the brain cell death happens over time.

In a person with Alzheimers, the brain tissue has fewer and fewer nerve cells and connections, and tiny deposits, known as plaques and tangles, build up on the nerve tissue.

Plaques develop between the dying brain cells. They are made from a protein known as beta-amyloid. The tangles, meanwhile, occur within the nerve cells. They are made from another protein, called tau.

What Happens In The Early Stage Of Dementia

Dementia affects everyone differently and early symptoms are often relatively mild and not always easy to notice.

Many people at the early stage of dementia stay largely independent and only need a bit of assistance with daily living. It is important to focus on what the person can do and not to take over and do things for them. Instead, try doing things with them, for example helping the person develop a routine, reminder lists and prompts, and use technology.

For more information for people living with dementia, see the ‘Keeping active and involved‘ page.

The early stage of dementia is when many people choose to make plans for the future, while they still have the ability to do so. This includes making a Lasting power of attorney , and advance decisions and advance statements to ensure their wishes and preferences are made clear.

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The Progression And Stages Of Dementia The Progression And Stages Of Dementia

Dementia is progressive. This means symptoms may be relatively mild at first but they get worse with time. Dementia affects everyone differently, however it can be helpful to think of dementia progressing in ‘three stages’.

The progression and stages of dementiaThe progression and stages of dementia .

Stage : Severe Cognitive Decline

At this stage, the person may require a high degree of care, as they may have symptoms such as:

• Difficulty remembering the names of their spouse, children, or primary caregivers
• Lack of awareness regarding all the recent events and experiences in their life
• Patchy or skewed recollection of their early life
• Difficulty counting backward or forward to 10
• Lack of awareness regarding their surroundings as well as the time and place
• Inability to travel alone without assistance
• Tendency to wander

The person is also likely to experience emotional and personality changes, such as:

• Paranoia, hallucinations, and delusional behavior, such as talking to themselves or believing their caregivers are trying to harm them
• Obsessive symptoms, such as repeatedly performing cleaning activities
• Agitation, anxiety, and even violent behavior
• Loss of willpower, due to being unable to carry a thought long enough to complete the action

During this stage, the person is likely to still be able to remember their name, as well as distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people in their environment. They will probably need assistance with daily living activities and may experience incontinence as well as sleep-related difficulties.

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Stages Of Frontotemporal Dementia

The rate at which FTD progresses varies greatly and research has found that the differences between different types of FTD become less obvious as dementia progresses. Those who originally exhibited symptoms of behavioural variants may eventually experience language difficulties and similarly, a person originally diagnosed with a language variant of FTD will typically develop behavioural problems. The symptoms and signs of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia are generally unaware of their behaviour and will rely on their loved ones to identify new and unusual characteristics.

Mild

Unlike Alzheimers, the early stage of frontotemporal dementia doesnt usually affect memory or cognitive functioning. Someone with FTD may go walking without obvious purpose but, unlike someone with Alzheimers, will return home without getting lost.

During the early stages of behavioural FTD, changes to personality and behaviour become noticeable. Typical behavioural changes include:

• Becoming uncharacteristically selfish or apathetic
• Acting impulsively

• Confusion regarding the meaning of familiar words,
• Difficulty in finding the right word
• Difficulty with recognising familiar objects

Severe

In the later stages of all types of FTD, more structures of the brain become damaged. Someone living with later stages of FTD usually experiences symptoms that are similar to the later stages of Alzheimers disease such as: