Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

There are 7 stages of Alzheimer’s:

Stage 1: No Impairment. During this stage, Alzheimer’s is not detectable and no memory problems or other symptoms of dementia are evident.

Stage 2: Very Mild Decline: There may be a noticeable issue or losing things or difficulty remembering things for seniors.

Stage 3: Mild Decline: A noticeable problem in cognitive functions can be recognized by family and friends. Find the right words, remembering the names of others and organizing and planning can be difficult. At this point, a doctor can carry out memory and cognitive test to detect the issue.

Stage 4: Moderate Decline: At this point, it’s apparent that patient has the disease because he or she may experience difficulty with simple Math, poor short term memory (a meal they had earlier), can’t manage paying and tracking their bills and finances and may forget stories about their lives.

Stage 5: Moderately Severe Decline: At this point, assistance is needed to carry out daily activities, such as, dressing, recollecting a phone number or details about themselves and seemed confused.

Stage 6: Severe Decline: Patients at this stage, require professional care and constant supervision. Patients are unaware of their surroundings, can only recognized close relatives or friends, can’t remember much details about personal history, poor bladder and bowel control, personality and behavioral changes, needs help with toilet and bathing.

Stages 7: Very Severe Decline: Those at this stage may lose their ability to swallow, communicate or respond, may utter words or phrases but it wouldn’t be coherent. This is a terminal illness and stage 7 is near death.