What Are The Levels Of Alzheimer’s

Stage : Severe Alzheimers

A person with stage six Alzheimers will likely require constant supervision and need in-home care to assist with daily living. As their memory regresses further, the person may begin forgetting names of friends and loved ones, as well as have trouble recalling their early life and childhood. The individual may also undergo severe mood and behavior changes while experiencing increased anxiety, irritability and delusions. For example, they may confuse friends and loved ones for one another. Communication can become difficult, but you can use these tips for a better conversation. It is also common for people at this stage to lose control of their bowel and bladder, as well as begin having trouble communicating as a result of speech impairment.

Common Difficulties of Severe Alzheimers

• Little memory of recent events, personal history or childhood
• Further loss of bodily control
• Requiring additional assistance for daily living
• Noticeable mood and thought process changes and behavioral problems
• Suffering increased delusions, anxiety and irritability
• Confusion of environment and overall surroundings
• Diminished and impaired speaking ability

Changes In Mood Emotions And Perceptions

Changes in mood remain in the later stages of dementia. Depression and apathy are particularly common.

Delusions and hallucinations are most common in the late stage of dementia. They are not always distressing but they can explain some changes in behaviour because the persons perception of reality is altered.

People with later stage dementia often respond more to senses than words. They may like listening to songs or enjoy textures. For example, they may like the feel of different types of material.

Stage : Very Mild Changes

You still might not notice anything amiss in your loved one’s behavior, but they may be picking up on small differences, things that even a doctor doesn’t catch. This could include forgetting words or misplacing objects.

At this stage, subtle symptoms of Alzheimer’s don’t interfere with their ability to work or live independently.

Keep in mind that these symptoms might not be Alzheimer’s at all, but simply normal changes from aging.

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Loss Of Neuronal Connections And Cell Death

In Alzheimers disease, as neurons are injured and die throughout the brain, connections between networks of neurons may break down, and many brain regions begin to shrink. By the final stages of Alzheimers, this processcalled brain atrophyis widespread, causing significant loss of brain volume.

Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease from MedlinePlus.

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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Incidence Of Dementia According To Ldl

Consistent to previous reports that indicated diabetes as a major risk factor for dementia,,,, also in our dataset, individuals with diabetes exhibited a significantly higher hazard of all-cause dementia compared to those without , which provided one of the rationales for these stratified analyses. In statin non-users with or without diabetes, the hazards of all-cause dementia and AD were highest in the lowest quartile or quintile of LDL-C, exhibiting an inverted J-shaped relationship . However, among statin users with or without diabetes, an advance in LDL-C quartile or quintile was associated with an increase in the hazard of all-cause dementia . Additional adjustment for monthly household income and Charlson Comorbidity Index demonstrated consistent findings with respect to the hazard of all-cause dementia. Regarding the hazard of AD, among statin users with or without diabetes, increasing trends of hazard according to the advance in LDL-C quartiles were shown after additional adjustment for these two factors.

Figure 2

Scales For Rating Dementia

Rather than simply using early stage,middle-stage, and late-stage dementia as descriptors, there are scales that provide a more comprehensive description. These scales help better understand the different stages of Alzheimers disease based on how well a person thinks and functions . These scales are the Global Deterioration Scale for Assessment of Primary Degenerative Dementia, the Functional Assessment Staging Test, and the Clinical Dementia Rating.

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Global Deterioration Scale / Reisberg Scale

The most commonly used scale is often referred to simply as GDS, or by its more formal name, the Reisberg Scale . The GDS divides into seven stages based on the amount of cognitive decline. This test is most relevant for people who have Alzheimers disease because some other types of dementia do not always include memory loss.

Someone in stages 1-3 does not typically exhibit enough symptoms for a dementia diagnosis. By the time a diagnosis has been made, a dementia patient is typically in stage 4 or beyond. Stage 4 is considered early dementia, stages 5 and 6 are considered middle dementia, and stage 7 is considered late dementia.

Clinical Dementia Rating

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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 : Noticeable Memory Difficulties

Unlike basic forgetfulness, noticeable memory difficulties actually affect an individuals daily routine. Things like forgetting words, challenges at work or in social settings, forgetting plans, difficulty organizing, and struggling to remember information are all considered noticeable memory difficulties.

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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.

How Is Alzheimers Disease Defined In The Updated Diagnostic Guidelines

In summary, the updated diagnostic guidelines describe three stages of Alzheimers disease:

• PreclinicalBrain changes, including amyloid buildup and other nerve cell changes, may already be in progress, but significant clinical symptoms are not yet evident.
• Mild cognitive impairment A stage marked by symptoms of memory and/or other thinking problems that are greater than normal for a persons age and education, but that do not interfere with his or her independence. People with MCI may or may not progress to Alzheimers dementia.
• Alzheimers dementiaThe final stage of the disease in which symptoms of Alzheimers, such as memory loss, word-finding difficulties, and visual/spatial problems, are significant enough to impair a persons ability to function independently.

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Symptoms Of Mild Dementia Due To Alzheimers

• Memory lapses that impact the ability to complete normal daily tasks
• Losing things or leaving them in odd places
• Wandering or becoming lost in familiar places
• Poor judgment, personality changes, increased anxiety or aggression
• Repeatedly asking the same question or questions
• Problems with life tasks like paying bills, buying groceries, reaching appointments
• Difficulty finding the right words to describe things or express emotions

Beyond Memory Loss: How To Handle The Other Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s

There is a lot of talk about the emotional pain patients and caregivers suffer when a loved one loses memories to Alzheimers. But what about the other symptoms? Here are tips from a Johns Hopkins expert on what to watch for and how to manage.

#TomorrowsDiscoveries: From Dysfunctional Cells to Disease Dr. Rong Li

Dr. Li and her team investigate how cells consolidate their damaged proteins and prevent them from spreading freely, in order to understand how to better treat diseases such as Alzheimers and ALS. Another of their interests is how chromosomes are divided up when one cell becomes two. Learning more about how the process can go wrong could lend insight into cancer development.

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Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnostic Guidelines

In 2011, clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimers disease dementia were revised, and research guidelines for earlier stages of the disease were characterized to reflect a deeper understanding of the disorder. Development of the new guidelines was led by the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimers Association. Read more about the updates to the guidelines.

What Are The Average Life Expectancy Figures For The Most Common Types Of Dementia

The average life expectancy figures for the most common types of dementia are as follows:

• Alzheimers disease around eight to 10 years. Life expectancy is less if the person is diagnosed in their 80s or 90s. A few people with Alzheimers live for longer, sometimes for 15 or even 20 years.
• Vascular dementia around five years. This is lower than the average for Alzheimers mostly because someone with vascular dementia is more likely to die from a stroke or heart attack than from the dementia itself.
• Dementia with Lewy bodies about six years. This is slightly less than the average for Alzheimers disease. The physical symptoms of DLB increase a persons risk of falls and infections.
• Frontotemporal dementia about six to eight years. If a person has FTD mixed with motor neurone disease a movement disorder, their dementia tends to progress much quicker. Life expectancy for people who have both conditions is on average about two to three years after diagnosis.

To find out about the support available to someone at the end of their life, and to their carers, family and friends, see our End of life care information.

You can also call Alzheimers Society on 0333 150 3456 for personalised advice and support on living well with dementia, at any stage.

Dementia Connect support lineDementia Connect support line.

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Stage : Moderately Severe Cognitive Declinemoderate Dementia

In this stage, deficits are of sufficient magnitude as to prevent catastrophe-free, independent community survival. The characteristic functional change in this stage is early deficits in basic activities of daily life. This is manifest in a decrement in the ability to choose the proper clothing to wear for the weather conditions or for everyday circumstances. Some persons with Alzheimers disease begin to wear the same clothing day after day unless reminded to change. The mean duration of this stage is 1.5 years.

The person with Alzheimers disease can no longer manage on their own. There is generally someone who is assisting in providing adequate and proper food, as well as assuring that the rent and utilities are paid and the finances are taken care of. For those who are not properly supervised, predatory strangers may become a problem. Very common reactions for persons at this stage who are not given adequate support are behavioral problems such as anger and suspiciousness.

Cognitively, persons at this stage frequently cannot recall major events and aspects of their current life such as the name of the current head of state, the weather conditions of the day, or their correct current address. Characteristically, some of these important aspects of current life are recalled, but not others. Also, the information is loosely held, so, for example, the person with moderate Alzheimers disease may recall their correct address on certain occasions, but not others.

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.

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What Are The Seven Stages Of Dementia

The most common types of dementia, including Alzheimers, are progressive, meaning cognitive decline worsens over time. Dementia is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe as well as early stage, middle stage, and late stage dementia.

Health care providers often use a more comprehensive tool to assess the seven stages of dementia in elderly patients. Its called the Global Deterioration Scale , or the Reisberg Scale, and was developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg, a geriatric psychiatrist and professor, in 1982.

The GDS enables caregivers and health professionals to determine how quickly dementia progresses in elderly patients, and which symptoms to expect during each of the seven stages of dementia.

What Causes Alzheimer’s Disease To Progress So Quickly

The progression of Alzheimers disease varies widely between individuals, with most people living with the condition for between 3 and 11 years after the initial diagnosis. In some cases, people may survive for more than 20 years. When Alzheimers is detected early, there are possible treatments that can help to slow the progression of the disease and contribute to a longer life expectancy.

It is therefore crucial to plan for the future and follow the progression of the disease through each stage. Alzheimers disease first begins with physical changes in the brain. This can happen at a gradual pace before any noticeable symptoms appear. In fact, this pre-clinical Alzheimers disease stage can begin 10 to 15 years before any symptoms appear.

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Stage : Mild Alzheimers

Stage three in Alzheimers progression is typically when friends and loved ones will begin noticing a persons cognitive problems. It is also when doctors may diagnose someone with Alzheimers disease, as their performance on memory testing starts to be affected. People in stage three begin to experience difficulty in more parts of their daily lives, as a result of increased forgetfulness and decreased attention for completing everyday tasks such as cleaning and paying bills. Individuals in this stage will often have trouble remembering and retaining information, and may struggle to find the right words in conversation. They may have difficulty in organizing and planning, and may also begin to experience more day-to-day mood swings and lapses in judgement.

Common Difficulties of Mild Dementia due to Alzheimers:

• Difficulty remembering new information
• Misplacing and losing objects, including personal valuables

What Causes Alzheimers Disease

In recent years, scientists have made tremendous progress in better understanding Alzheimers and the momentum continues to grow. Still, scientists dont yet fully understand what causes Alzheimers disease in most people. In people with early-onset Alzheimers, a genetic mutation may be the cause. Late-onset Alzheimers arises from a complex series of brain changes that may occur over decades. The causes probably include a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The importance of any one of these factors in increasing or decreasing the risk of developing Alzheimers may differ from person to person.

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