Alzheimer's disease robs its victims of their ability to make sound judgments, while it slowly steals their memory. The Alzheimer's Association states that as many as 5.3 million Americans currently live with this disease--a disease for which there is no cure. Its symptoms are progressive and occur in stages; these stages are how the doctor diagnoses his patient.
Stage One: Normal Function
During a medical exam, patients in stage one have no memory problems obvious to their doctor. They are also free of any behavioral or mood changes.
Stage Two: Normal Forgetfulness
Changes begin taking place in a person's ability to remember certain things, such as the placement of car keys or familiar names. The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation states that half, or more than half of people over the age of 65 experience these problems, which many consider a part of the normal aging process. During a medical exam, these symptoms are not evident to the doctor as signs of Alzheimer's.
Stage Three: Mild Decline
During stage three, family and friends may begin to notice changes taking place, as people in this stage may read a small passage and forget what they just read, begin asking the same question repeatedly, or lose their ability to plan or organize. The Alzheimer's Association explains that a diagnosis may take place in some, but not all, patients in this stage.
Stage Four: Early Alzheimer's
Cognitive impairment is evident in this stage, and a medical exam detects obvious deficiencies in certain areas. These include, but are not limited to, an inability to recall certain current events, an inability to plan a dinner, an inability to pay or manage bills, and an inability to remember their own personal history.
Stage Five: Moderate Alzheimer's
The disease begins to rob people of their ability to function independently, requiring supervision and assistance from others. When speaking to a doctor, the patient is typically unable to remember his address or phone number. Confusion is normal when it comes to the day of the week, date or season, resulting in the need for assistance with dressing properly for the weather.
Stage Six: Moderately Severe
As the disease progresses, memory problems worsen and changes in personality become evident. Not only are patients unable to choose proper clothing, they require assistance with dressing as they may wear pajamas during the day and vice versa. Help with toileting is typically necessary, and their bodily functions begin to decline as loss of bowel and bladder control is common. A tendency to wander and become lost is another symptom that occurs during this stage, as are behavioral changes, which include becoming delusional and hallucinating.
Stage Seven: Extremely Severe
Stage seven is the final stage of Alzheimer's, causing the worse symptoms. The Alzheimer's Association explains that this is time when patients lose their ability to respond to the environment around them, along with their ability to speak and control movement. Most cannot walk or eat without help due to a rigidity of their muscles and an inability to swallow.
References
- Alzheimer's Association: What is Alzheimer's?
- Alzheimer's Association: Stages of Alzheimer's
- National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet
- University of Califiornia, San Francisco: Alzheimer's Disease
- Fisher Center For Alzheimer's Research Foundation: Clinical Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
