There are different methods used for classifying Alzheimer's disease into stages. One method, developed at the NYU School of Medicine's Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center, puts the symptoms of Alzheimer's into six different stages. Another, and more common, method of staging classifies Alzheimer's symptoms into three different stages. While each stage has its own distinctive symptoms, the Mayo Clinic reports that it can take 10 to 20 years from diagnosis to the full progression from mild to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Stages 1 to 3
The stages developed at NYU are listed by the Alzheimer's Association. Stage 1 represents no symptoms of cognitive decline. In stage 2, the patient may exhibit a mild decline, such as the inability to remember where she puts things or a temporary lapse of remembering someone's name. Stage 3 ushers in what is called a mild form of cognitive decline. In this stage, the memory lapses and confusion start to become evident to friends and family.
Stage 4
Stage 4, or mild Alzheimer's, is still considered an early phase of the disease. Here, the patient may experience lapses in memory, as in stages 2 and 3 above, but he also begins to experience slight personality changes. The Mayo Clinic states that with mild Alzheimer's, personality changes, such as quick bouts of anger, can be due to the frustration of the mental changes taking place. Out of fear of making mistakes, or saying the wrong thing, those with mild Alzheimer's may also find themselves beginning to withdraw from social situations.
Stage 5
At stage 5, or moderate Alzheimer's disease, the memory lapses become more obvious. As the Alzheimer's Foundation reports, patients forget the simpler things, such as their address or phone number, or even where they are and the day of the week. Behavior may become even more inappropriate, with tendencies such as biting and kicking in public. The U.S. National Institute on Aging notes that along with forgetting names and addresses, the person suffering from Alzheimer's may also start confusing the identities of friends or family members. Many things become repetitive, such as stories or actions like locking a door.
Stage 6
Stage 6 is also known as severe Alzheimer's, and this may be the hardest stage for family and friends to watch their loved one go through. The Mayo Clinic reports that with severe Alzheimer's, the patient needs help with all of her daily tasks, from walking to sitting up. Recognition of family members or friends may happen only on occasion, and according to the National Institute on Aging, she may even have a hard time recognizing herself. The patient tends to sleep more, talk incoherently, and may begin having seizures or fall and trip easily. Assistance in this stage is a must.
