How Fast Does Alzheimer’s Disease Progress

Stage : Very Severe Decline

Many basic abilities in a person with Alzheimer’s, such as eating, walking, and sitting up, fade during this period. You can stay involved by feeding your loved one with soft, easy-to-swallow food, helping them use a spoon, and making sure they drink. This is important, as many people at this stage can no longer tell when they’re thirsty.

In this stage, people with Alzheimer’s disease need a lot of help from caregivers. Many families find that, as much as they may want to, they can no longer take care of their loved one at home. If thatâs you, look into facilities such as nursing homes that provide professional care day and night.

When someone nears the end of their life, hospice may be a good option. That doesn’t necessarily mean moving them to another location. Hospice care can happen anywhere. Itâs a team approach that focuses on comfort, pain management and other medical needs, emotional concerns, and spiritual support for the person and their family.

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Stage : Moderate Dementia

When a person has moderate dementia due to Alzheimers disease, they become increasingly confused and forgetful. They may need help with daily tasks and with looking after themselves. This is the longest stage and often lasts around 24 years.

Symptoms of moderate dementia due to Alzheimers disease include:

• losing track of the location and forgetting the way, even in familiar places
• wandering in search of surroundings that feel more familiar
• failing to recall the day of the week or the season
• confusing family members and close friends or mistaking strangers for family
• forgetting personal information, such as their address
• repeating favorite memories or making up stories to fill memory gaps
• needing help deciding what to wear for the weather or season
• needing assistance with bathing and grooming
• occasionally losing control of the bladder or bowel
• becoming unduly suspicious of friends and family
• seeing or hearing things that are not there
• becoming restless or agitated
• having physical outbursts, which may be aggressive

As Alzheimers progresses, a person may start to feel more restless toward evening and have difficulty sleeping. This is sometimes called sundowners syndrome.

During this stage, physical and mental functioning continue to decline.

If a person has severe dementia during the later stages of Alzheimers disease, they might:

Other common causes of death among people with Alzheimers disease include dehydration, malnutrition, and other infections.

Stage : Very Severe Cognitive Declinesevere Dementia

At this stage, AD persons require continuous assistance with basic activities of daily life for survival. Six consecutive functional substages can be identified over the course of this final seventh stage. Early in this stage, speech has become so circumscribed, as to be limited to approximately a half-dozen intelligible words or fewer . As this stage progresses, speech becomes even more limited to, at most, a single intelligible word . Once intelligible speech is lost, the ability to ambulate independently , is invariably lost. However, ambulatory ability may be compromised at the end of the sixth stage and in the early portion of the seventh stage by concomitant physical disability, poor care, medication side-effects or other factors. Conversely, superb care provided in the early seventh stage, and particularly in stage 7b, can postpone the onset of loss of ambulation. However, under ordinary circumstances, stage 7a has a mean duration of approximately 1 year, and stage 7b has a mean duration of approximately 1.5 years.

In persons with AD who remain alive, stage 7c lasts approximately 1 year, after which persons with AD lose the ability not only to ambulate independently but also to sit up independently , At this point in the evolution, the person will fall over when seated unless there are armrests to assist in sitting up in the chair.

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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.

Stage : Moderate Decline

During this period, the problems in thinking and reasoning that you noticed in stage 3 get more obvious, and new issues appear. Your friend or family member might:

• Forget details about themselves
• Have trouble putting the right date and amount on a check
• Forget what month or season it is
• Have trouble cooking meals or even ordering from a menu
• Struggle to use the telephone
• Not understand what is said to them
• Struggle to do tasks with multiple steps like cleaning the house.

You can help with everyday chores and their safety. Make sure they aren’t driving anymore, and that no one tries to take advantage of them financially.

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Stage : Severe Decline

As Alzheimer’s progresses, your loved one might recognize faces but forget names. They might also mistake a person for someone else, for instance, think their wife is their mother. Delusions might set in, such as thinking they need to go to work even though they no longer have a job.

You might need to help them go to the bathroom.

It might be hard to talk, but you can still connect with them through the senses. Many people with Alzheimer’s love hearing music, being read to, or looking over old photos.

At this stage, your loved one might struggle to:

• Feed themselves

• Changes in their sleeping patterns

Stage : Severe Cognitive Declinemoderately Severe Dementia

Stage 6a

At this stage, the ability to perform basic activities of daily life becomes compromised. Functionally, five successive substages are identifiable. Persons initially in stage 6a, in addition to having lost the ability to choose their clothing without assistance, begin to require assistance in putting on their clothing properly. Unless supervised, the person with Alzheimers disease may put their clothing on backward, they may have difficulty putting their arm in the correct sleeve, or they may dress in the wrong sequence.

The total duration of the stage of moderately severe Alzheimers disease is approximately 2.5 years in otherwise healthy persons.

Stage 6b

At approximately the same point in the evolution of AD, but generally just a little later in the temporal sequence, AD persons lose the ability to bathe without assistance . Characteristically, the earliest and most common deficit in bathing is difficulty adjusting the temperature of the bath water. Once the caregiver adjusts the temperature of the bath water, the AD person can still potentially otherwise bathe independently. As this stage evolves, additional deficits occur in bathing and dressing independently. In this 6b substage, AD persons generally develop deficits in other modalities of daily hygiene such as properly brushing their teeth.

Stages 6c, 6d, 6e

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How Quickly Does Dementia Progress

The speed at which dementia progresses varies a lot from person to person because of factors such as:

• the type of dementia for example, Alzheimers disease tends to progress more slowly than the other types
• a persons age for example, Alzheimers disease generally progresses more slowly in older people than in younger people
• other long-term health problems dementia tends to progress more quickly if the person is living with other conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, particularly if these are not well-managed
• delirium a medical condition that starts suddenly .

There is no way to be sure how quickly a persons dementia will progress. Some people with dementia will need support very soon after their diagnosis. In contrast, others will stay independent for several years.

Symptoms That Differ From Person To Person May Include:

• Forgetting about events or personal history.
• Moodiness or withdrawal, particularly in socially or mentally challenging situations
• Being unable to recall personal information such as their address or phone number and the high school or college they attended.
• They are unsure of where they are or what day it is.
• Requiring assistance in selecting appropriate clothing for the season or occasion
• They are having difficulty controlling their bladder and bowels.
• Sleep patterns are changing, such as sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night.
• Exhibiting an increased proclivity to wander and become lost
• Suspiciousness and delusions and compulsive, repetitive behavior such as hand-wringing or tissue shredding are examples of personality and behavioral changes.

In the middle stage of Alzheimers, the person can still participate in daily activities with assistance. It is critical to determine what the person can still do and to find ways to simplify tasks. Caregivers may want to consider respite care or an adult day center as the need for more intensive care grows so that they can take a temporary break from caregiving. At the same time, the person living with Alzheimers continues to receive care in a safe environment.

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How Much Higher Are My Chances For Developing Early

Scientists still dont know exactly what causes Alzheimers neither early-onset nor later onset Alzheimers nor do they fully understand the role of genetics. So far, research does show that some genes are associated with a much higher risk of developing Alzheimers dementia than others.

Dr. James Ellison of the Swank Memory Care Center at Christiana Care Health System in Delaware writes that the majority of early-onset Alzheimers disease does not run in families. Some families, however, do have genetic mutations that almost guarantees development of early-onset Alzheimers. If a person carries genes associated with early-onset Alzheimers, according to the National Institute on Aging, theres a strong probability that they will develop the disease.

When someone first shows cognitive symptoms of early-onset Alzheimers, it might be because they carry a genetic mutation known to be associated with early-onset Alzheimers. The best-known include:

• Amyloid precursor protein

Genes PSEN1 and PSEN2, for example, may carry as much as a 99-percent chance of Alzheimers onset by age 50.

In most people, these genes will lead to an early-onset Alzheimers between a persons late 30s and early 60s. But do these early-onset genes tell us about the underlying cause of Alzheimers at large? Scientists still arent quite sure.

Stage : Moderate Alzheimers

By now, theres usually no question that a person is suffering from Alzheimers. Doctors will often run memory tests and perform brain scans to make a more definitive diagnosis. People may remain in this stage for a few years or more than a decade, depending on how the disease progresses. During this stage, patients with Alzheimers may become increasingly frustrated or withdrawn as they begin to come to terms with the diagnosis. Caregivers may need to begin coordinating supervised care. Symptoms can include:

• Increased memory loss, including forgetting parts of personal history.
• Difficulty with language, reading and writing and working with numbers.
• Changes in personality and mood, including suspiciousness, delusions, and angry outbursts.
• Impulsive behavior, like undressing at inappropriate times.
• Greater risk of wandering off or getting lost.
• Needing help with daily activities like choosing appropriate clothing for the weather, bathing and grooming or using the bathroom.
• Restlessness and agitation, especially late in the day.
• In some people, trouble controlling bowel and bladder function.

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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.

What Is Alzheimer’sdisease

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that damages the brain. It causes a steady loss of memory and of how well you can speak, think, and do your daily activities.

The disease gets worse over time, but how quickly this happens varies. Some people lose the ability to do daily activities in the first few years. Others may do fairly well until much later in the disease.

Mild memory loss is common in people older than 60. It may not mean that you have Alzheimer’s disease. But if your memory is getting worse, see your doctor. If it is Alzheimer’s, treatment may help.

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Stage : Severe Alzheimers

As cognitive function continues to decline and in this stage the decline can be more rapid as well people may have a hard time having even basic conversations. Around-the-clock care will be necessary for the patients own safety, as people at this stage are unable to eat, go to the bathroom, move around, and perform other daily activities by themselves. While this final stage tends to be briefer than other stages, it can still span several years.

• Losing the ability to walk, sit, hold up their head, swallow.
• Inability to communicate.

How Does Alzheimers Impact Life Expectancy

According to a study, the key factors that determine how long someone lives after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are gender, age, and level of disability:

• While men lived approximately 4.1 years following diagnosis, women lived approximately 4.6 years.
• When someone who is over the age of 90 is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, they live 3.8 years. In contrast, someone under the age of 70 lived 10.7 years.
• If a patient was frail when they were diagnosed, they didn’t live as long even after the adjustment for age has been made.

In the end, the average survival time for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia was 4.5 years.

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Taking Care Of Yourself

• If your doctor gives you medicines, take them exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine. You will get more details on the medicines your doctor prescribes.
• Eat a balanced diet. Get plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables every day. If you are not hungry at mealtimes, eat snacks at midmorning and in the afternoon. Try drinks such as Boost, Ensure, or Sustacal if you are having trouble keeping your weight up.
• Stay active. Exercise such as walking may slow the decline of your mental abilities. Try to stay active mentally too. Read and work crossword puzzles if you enjoy these activities.
• If you have trouble sleeping, do not nap during the day. Get regular exercise . Drink a glass of warm milk or caffeine-free herbal tea before going to bed.
• Ask your doctor about support groups and other resources in your area. They can help people who have Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
• Be patient. You may find that a task takes you longer than it used to.
• If you have not already done so, make a list of advance directives. Advance directives are instructions to your doctor and family members about what kind of care you want if you become unable to speak or express yourself. Talk to a lawyer about making a will, if you do not already have one.

Stages Of Alzheimers Disease

• Stages of Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain that typically advances in stages. These stages are generally referred to as early-, middle-, and late-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Whether you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or know someone who has, understanding the symptoms and challenges they pose is key for ensuring effective support for patients, caregivers and loved ones.

While there are tools and assessments used to determine Alzheimers disease progression, the patients ability to function daily will give clues as to the particular stage of the disease they may be in.

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Medicines For Memory Problems

• Cholinesterase inhibitors treat symptoms of mental decline in people who have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. They include donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine. Donepezil can be used to help those who have severe Alzheimer’s disease.
• Memantine treats more severe symptoms of confusion and memory loss.

These medicines may help improve memory and daily functioning for a period of time in some people who have Alzheimer’s disease. How well they work varies. They don’t prevent the disease from getting worse.

Stage : Very Severe Dementia

Stage 7 is the last stage of Alzheimer’s disease. A person in this stage loses most if not all of their independence as thinking, memory, and control over bodily functions all severely decline. Common characteristics of stage 7 include:3

• Gradual loss of basic motor skills, such as the ability to walk or control their limbs
• Needing assistance with eating, bathing, and using the bathroom
• Losing the ability to speak or becoming nonverbal

Those in stage 7 will often require full-time support from a caregiver.

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