How Many Stages Are There Of Dementia

How Fast Does Dementia Progress

Theres no real way to know how long it will take for a loved one to progress through all the stages of dementia. Dementia gets worse with time, but some people stay in the early stages of dementia longer and can remain independent for years. However, others experience rapid dementia symptoms and will require more immediate support. End-stage dementia, which is the most aggressive stage of dementia, typically lasts between one and two years.

What Is The Life Expectancy For Someone With Dementia

This is an incredibly difficult question to answer as there are many influencing factors, including the persons age and gender, the type of dementia and the stage of the condition at diagnosis. The average life expectancy after diagnosis for someone with Alzheimers, the most common form of dementia is 10 years. However, dementia progresses differently in everyone, meaning people can live anywhere from 2 years to 26 years after diagnosis.

The main way in which health care professionals estimate dementia life expectancy is by using the Global Deterioration Scale , also called the Reisberg Scale. It shows the average time someone is expected to live depending on which stage of dementia they are at.

What Is The Alzheimers Clock

The Alzheimers Clock-Drawing Test also known as a CDT, is a fast and simple way of spotting warning signs for Alzheimers disease and other related dementias that can be administered by non-professionals in the comfort of ones home. While a true diagnosis of Alzheimers or dementia requires more than a few minutes of drawing with a pencil and paper, the Alzheimers Clock-Drawing Test is useful for identifying issues in thinking ability that might indicate the presence of these illnesses.

The Alzheimers Clock-Drawing Test also provides a powerful visual for families to see that something is wrong with their loved ones. Although the test may not seem scientific, it is backed by science and has contributed to earlier diagnoses and improved quality of life for persons with dementia.

Its important to remember that no true diagnosis can be made without further tests from a doctor. If the clock is drawn incorrectly, that is not cause for despair. It simply means you need to make a doctors appointment so your loved one can be evaluated by an expert and receive a medical diagnosis.

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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.

Who Can Diagnose Dementia

Visiting a primary care doctor is often the first step for people who are experiencing changes in thinking, movement, or behavior. However, neurologists doctors who specialize in disorders of the brain and nervous system are often consulted to diagnose dementia. Geriatric psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and geriatricians may also be able to diagnose dementia. Your doctor can help you find a specialist.

If a specialist cannot be found in your community, contact the nearest medical school neurology department for a referral. A medical school hospital also may have a dementia clinic that provides expert evaluation. You can also visit the Alzheimers Disease Research Centers directory to see if there is an NIA-funded center near you. These centers can help with obtaining a diagnosis and medical management of conditions.

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Stages Of Alzheimer Disease

The stages of Alzheimer disease usually follow a progressive pattern. But each person moves through the disease stages in his or her own way. Knowing these stages helps healthcare providers and family members make decisions about how to care for someone who has Alzheimer disease.

Preclinical stage. Changes in the brain begin years before a person shows any signs of the disease. This time period is called preclinical Alzheimer disease and it can last for years.

Mild, early stage. Symptoms at this stage include mild forgetfulness. This may seem like the mild forgetfulness that often comes with aging. But it may also include problems with concentration.

A person may still live independently at this stage, but may have problems:

• Remembering a name

• Staying organized

The person may be aware of memory lapses and their friends, family or neighbors may also notice these difficulties.

Moderate, middle stage. This is typically the longest stage, usually lasting many years. At this stage, symptoms include:

• Increasing trouble remembering events

• Problems learning new things

• Trouble with planning complicated events, like a dinner

• Trouble remembering their own name, but not details about their own life, such as address and phone number

• Problems with reading, writing, and working with numbers

As the disease progresses, the person may:

Physical changes may occur as well. Some people have sleep problems. Wandering away from home is often a concern.

Severe, late stage. At this stage, a person:

How Are The Stages Of Dementia Diagnosed

During an evaluation process, doctors perform various tests to determine if a patient is suffering from dementia. These different tests include:

• Cognitive tests: Different cognitive tests are available, like the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition screening and the Mini-Cog 3-minute test. Also available are the Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia and the Short Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly .
• Neurological Evaluations: During this evaluation, doctors might perform a brain imaging study, like an MRI or CT scan. They will also check different functions including:

• Brain Scans: Cortisol atrophy is common in patients with dementia. This progressive loss of neurons causes the brain to appear thinner and wider as brain cells die and ventricles expand to fill the space. Doctors can identify this by performing computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging scans.
• Psychiatric Evaluation: Psychiatric evaluations are normally done to determine if a patient has depression or other psychiatric disorders that could be contributing to their symptoms of dementia.

A 2016 study has shown that:

• A majority of patients with dementia also experience mood, behavior, and perception disturbances.
• Patients with schizophrenia develop dementia later in life.
• Depression could be associated with cognitive decline.
• Alzheimers disease presents many psychiatric symptoms.

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Stage : Age Associated Memory Impairment

This stage features occasional lapses of memory most frequently seen in:

• Forgetting where one has placed an object
• Forgetting names that were once very familiar

Oftentimes, this mild decline in memory is merely normal age-related cognitive decline, but it can also be one of the earliest signs of degenerative dementia. At this stage, signs are still virtually undetectable through clinical testing. Concern for early onset of dementia should arise with respect to other symptoms.

What To Expect In Late

In the later stages of dementia, your loved one will require significant support with their activities of daily living , including assistance with eating, dressing, and using the bathroom.

The final stage of dementia is usually the shortest stage, lasting around one to two years.

The goal in the final stages of vascular dementia is maintaining comfort, routine, and indulging the senses.

Learning how to communicate and interpret your loved ones needs is essential, as they may turn mainly to nonverbal communication.

At any stage of dementia, its important to focus on what the person is still able to do, rather than the abilities they have lost.

Developing a routine will help your loved one feel more comfortable. Surround them with their favorite hobbies and items, including old photographs, and beloved movies, games, and music.

The Kensington White Plains uses cognitive-stimulating programs, music therapy, pet therapy, robo-pets, and pocket programming as some of our enhanced care programs designed to foster connection and decrease anxiety.

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The Later Stage Of Dementia The Later Stage Of Dementia

People with later-stage dementia will eventually need full-time care and support with daily living and personal care, such as eating, washing and dressing. Whatever kind of dementia a person has, their life expectancy is on average lower.

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

Dementia is a life-limiting condition and there is information about later-stage dementia and life expectancy on this page. Some people may find this upsetting and difficult to think about.

For more general information about the different stages of dementia, see The progression and stages of dementia page.

By the later stage of dementia, the condition will have a severe impact on most aspects of a persons life. The person will eventually need full-time care and support with daily living and personal care, such as eating, washing and dressing. This support can be provided by care at home but is more often given in a care home setting.

Symptoms of all kinds are likely to cause the person considerable difficulties in this stage, but altered perception and physical problems are often the most noticeable. By the late stage, the symptoms of all types of dementia become very similar.

The later stage of dementia tends to be the shortest. On average it lasts about one to two years.

Are you supporting a person with later-stage dementia?Are you supporting a person with later-stage dementia? .

The Later Stages Of Dementia

It is important to remember that not everyone living with dementia will want to know what is ahead of them. However, if youre caring for someone living with dementia, it is useful to know about the later stages of the disease so you can make decisions about future care options.

In the later stages of dementia, symptoms such as poor memory, confusion and other forms of cognitive impairment are joined by more physical symptoms.

Dementia is an illness of progressive cell damage. It starts in the parts of the brain that deal with memory and slowly moves to parts of the brain that control other functions. Sadly, this will eventually cause major organs to stop working. Below you can find a summary of some of the things you can expect when caring for someone in the later stages of dementia.

Our advice page on looking after someone with dementia might also be helpful.

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What To Expect In Middle

In the middle stages of dementia, you can expect your loved ones symptoms to advance.

They may begin to experience changes in their behavior and develop increasing confusion and communication issues.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety may appear as your loved one grapples with moderate cognitive decline, loss of independence, and frustration with communication.

Your loved one will require an increasing level of care, emotional support, and compassion as they experience these changes.

It may be wise in the middle stage to bring on additional in-home care or make the move to an assisted living community with memory care.

The Kensington White Plains offers two memory care communities designed to meet your loved ones exact level of care.

We offer a robust life enrichment program and numerous onsite services to help residents maintain their highest quality of life through social, physical, and wellness activities.

Providing Care For Someone With Vascular Dementia

Caring for someone with vascular dementia is challenging. Understanding the disease and knowing what to expect is the best thing that caregivers can do to be prepared. Because so many cases of VaD result from stroke, caregivers may also have to assist their loved ones with physical tasks if they are impaired following the stroke. Please visit our caregiving section for a comprehensive guide to providing care for dementia.

Broadly, these are ways you can help care for someone who has vascular dementia: Create a more structured routine, with meals, getting dressed, and other activities of living occuring at about the same time every day. Simplify tasks as much as possible. Subtle reminders to do things like go to the bathroom can be enough to help ease daily difficulties.

Unfortunately, dementia gets worse over time. Respite care and adult day care programs can be useful for helpful supervision of a loved one who is losing independence, but eventually a move into assisted living with memory care will become necessary. Be sure to communicate regularly with doctors who can help you be prepared for whats coming. If you need help finding memory care that fits your familys budget and needs, .

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How To Care For Loved Ones With Dementia

Do you have a loved one with dementia?

If so, you might be wondering what you can do to provide the best care possible for them.

Each stage of dementia comes with different symptoms and therefore patients will have different needs as they progress through from early dementia where symptoms are mild, to late dementia where the symptoms are more severe.

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

Recommended Reading: How Long Can A Person Live With End Stage Alzheimer’s

Stage : Moderately Severe Mental Decline/moderate Dementiaquality Of Life: Moderate Impact

Your loved one will likely remember some of their past and still recognize loved ones. He or she may have trouble making healthcare decisions. You may need some care in the home for day-to-day activities. You may see your loved one:

• Experience personality changes and mood swings.
• Repeat the same questions over and over again.
• Have gaps in memory and become confused about the date, where you are, or your address and phone number.
• Need help with eating or using the toilet.
• Have trouble choosing clothing, such as what kind of close to wear for the season.
• Have bladder problems.

How You Can Help:

If you havent already helped your loved one document his or her care wishes, talk with the health care team and the options for care.

If you have, help the health care team follow your loved ones care preferences.

You can:

• Help with dressing, toileting, and other daily activities.
• Respond to repeated questions with patience.

How Important Are The Stages Of Dementia

The stages of dementia are just a guide and there is nothing significant about the number three. Equally, dementia doesnt follow an exact or certain set of steps that happen in the same way for every person with dementia.

It can be difficult to tell when a persons dementia has progressed from one stage to another because:

• some symptoms may appear in a different order to the stages described in this factsheet, or not at all
• the stages may overlap the person may need help with some aspects of everyday life but manage other tasks and activities on their own
• some symptoms, particularly those linked to behaviours, may develop at one stage and then reduce or even disappear later on. Other symptoms, such as memory loss and problems with language and thinking, tend to stay and get worse with time.

It is natural to ask which stage a person is at or what might happen next. But it is more important to focus on the person in the present moment. This includes their needs and how they can live well, and how to help them with this.

For more support on living well with dementia see The dementia guide: living well after diagnosis or Caring for a person with dementia: a practical guide .

And for more information about treatment and support for the different types of dementia go to the following pages:

• What is frontotemporal dementia ?

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Understanding Different Types Of Dementia

As we age, its normal to lose some neurons in the brain. People living with dementia, however, experience far greater loss. Many neurons stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and eventually die. At first, symptoms can be mild, but they get worse over time.

Read on to learn more about four different types of dementia.

Stage : Very Severe Cognitive Decline

In the final stage, the brain appears to lose its connection to the body and becomes incapable of telling it what to do.

The person is likely to progressively lose their motor skills as well as the ability to speak. They may only be able to utter unintelligible sounds or words, if at all. They will need assistance with all personal care tasks such as eating, walking, and using the bathroom.

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What Is The Most Popular Cat Breed

While it might be somewhat tricky to get exact numbers when it comes to how many cat breeds there are and which are the rarest, whats much clearer is which breeds are the most popular amongst feline pet parents.

The CFA has once again determined the answer to this question based on registrations, and while their list of the top 10 most popular cat breeds reveals which continue to increase in popularity, they report that registrations for all cat breeds have increased substantially since the beginning of the pandemic.

So, which cat takes out the number one spot? Well, theres probably no surprise here that its the laid-back, sweet-tempered Ragdoll, which is a family favorite thanks to its loving and affectionate nature.

Rounding out the top five is the gentlest of all giants, the Maine Coone, followed by the Exotic, the Persian, and the Devon Rex. Other cat breeds to make the list include the British Shorthair, Abyssinian, American Shorthair, and Scottish Fold.

But regardless of whether you have your eye on a rare kitty or a feline that’s a little more popular, there are training tasks you’ll need to undertake as a pet parent that apply to all breeds. Our guides to how to litter train a kitten and how to socialize a kitten can help set your beloved ball of fluff up for success, both now and in the future, by assisting them in learning the behaviors that are expected of them as a member of your family.