Seven Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
Stage I
This is defined as a normal adult with no decline in function or memory
Stage II
This is described as very mild decline. Memory difficulties are of a normal older adult, a feature of natural aging, rather than a disease process. Memory lapses, is a good way to describe things such as forgetting people's names and where they have put objects.
Stage III
Is a mild decline, also described as early Alzheimer's disease. Signs may include: Getting lost traveling to an unfamiliar location, work colleagues begin to notice low performance because of organizational and planning problems. People close to the affected person notice name and work-finding deficits. They are unable to remember the name of a recently introduced person, their ability to recall information from a book becomes difficult. They may misplace or lose a valuable object. Concentration may begin to become affected.
Stage IV
This is described as mild Alzheimer's disease with moderate cognitive decline(e.g. problems with thinking, memory, planning, problem solving). There are clear signs of Alzheimer's disease in a clinical interview.
Stage V
Stage five is described as moderate, mid-stage Alzheimer's disease. At this stage people will begin to require some help with activities of daily living. There is some disorientation in time and they may be confused about where they are. At interview they may be unable to recall important information about themselves, their family and others.
Stage VI
This is described as moderately severe or mid stage Alzheimer's disease. Memory problems worsen and people at this stage of the disease start to forget significant amounts of information about themselves, their surroundings. They can wander and may become lost. They may forget names of their spouses. They require significant assistance with dressing, bathing properly and with the mechanics of toileting. Urinary and fecal incontinence can occur because of this. Patterns of sleep can be disturbed, personality and emotional changes occur. Delusional, suspicious, obsessive behavior, anxiety, agitation and even violent behavior may be exhibited. Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there) may be experienced.
Stage VII
This stage is described as very severe decline, late stage Alzheimer's disease. At this stage of the disease all verbal and walking abilities, ability to sit up, smile will all gradually be lost. Motor systems may include jerking movements. At stage seven, the person with Alzheimer's will be incontinent and will be unable to do anything for themselves. They have difficulty swallowing.
Ten Classic Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
1. Memory Loss
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation to time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes is mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative
