Disability Resource Directory

The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative mental disorder that can leave a person confused and frustrated when it comes to simple activities like identifying a family member. The disease can be devastating for both the person afflicted with the disease and those who love and care for the person. In this article, we'll explain the stages of progression that occur in Alzheimer's disease so that you can better understand what a person with the disease will go through.

Alzheimer's exists in seven stages, with Stage I being the introductory symptoms of the disease and Stage VII representing the most severe development. In Stage I of Alzheimer's disease, the symptoms are non-existent. The afflicted person has no mental decline and can pass any cognitive test that would note the development of the disease. When Stage II of Alzheimer's begins, the patient begins to lose some aspects of memory. They may become slightly forgetful, and it can take them longer than usual to come up with words or phrases. The symptoms in Stage II are so minimal, the symptoms may not even be noticeable to friends and family, let alone a psychiatric test.

When Stage III occurs, moderate cognitive decline is present. In this stage, the loved ones of the Alzheimer's patient may begin to notice that they are having more and more trouble with regards to memory and concentration. They may have a decreased ability to remember the names of people that they recently met, they may not be performing as efficiently as usual in the workplace, and they may not be able to retain information that they read. Their ability to plan begins to fade, and they may lose personal possessions more often than usual. In this Stage, Alzheimer's may be able to be diagnosed clinically.

Stage IV of Alzheimer's is trademarked by clearly observable inconsistencies in the patient's abilities to think and reason properly. They may find simple thinking exercises to be difficult, and they may forget some important aspects of their past. Patients in this stage tend to be more withdrawn, lacking a clear understanding of the current events in their life and in the world.

Stage V shows a moderately severe decline in cognitive processes. In this stage, you'll find that the patient has huge gaps in their memory and ability to reason properly. The afflicted may forget crucial information, such as their name or their address when asked. Also, they may lack common sense when it comes to things like what they should wear throughout the day. They may not 'dress for the weather', or even the season, due to their decreased reasoning capability.

In Stage VI of Alzheimer's disease, you can denote a clear difference in the patient's personality. This can be one of the most agonizing stages of the disease, as the afflicted person forgets things that have recently happened to them or even where they are at. They may experience incontinence, and may be unable to properly dress themselves and perform everyday activities. Patients in this stage may forget the names of their loved ones, but they are still usually able to recognize important people by their face. Patients at this stage may wander off, unsure of where they are.

The last stage of Alzheimer's disease, Stage VII, is the most crippling to the patient. They may become unable to speak properly or control themselves within the environment and may even become unable to move. Muscle functions decrease, and the patient may not be able to sit down without help.

Now that you know more about how Alzheimer's progresses, you can be better prepared for when the situation occurs. When Alzheimer's affects someone that you love, it can be completely devastating. It's a terrible disease, but it's important to understand exactly how it will affect your loved one.