Alzheimer's disease is divided into three stages: mild, moderate and severe. The symptoms get progressively worse during each stage. New symptoms also appear during each stage.
Risk Factors
Alzheimer's disease is most common in those older than 85 years old, but the disease also affects people older than 65 and rarely those younger than 40. People, especially women, with uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes, high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure are at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Brain Cells
Alzheimer's affects brain cells in two ways: tangles and plaques. Tangles occur when tau proteins in the brain cells become twisted; plaques occur when beta-amyloid proteins interfere with brain cell communication.
Mild Alzheimer's
Stage 1 Alzheimer's disease symptoms include minor memory loss, difficulty planning and organizing regular events, getting lost, using poor judgment and minor mood swings. This stage usually lasts two to four years.
Moderate Alzheimer's
Inability to perform complicated tasks, disorientation, confusing present and past, speech and comprehension problems, depression, irritation, and worsening of symptoms from Stage 1 are common during Stage 2 Alzheimer's disease. Stage 2 generally lasts two to 10 years.
Severe Alzheimer's
Loss of bodily functions, respiratory problems, skin infections, increased sleeping and the worsening of symptoms from Stages 1 and 2 are common in Stage 3 Alzheimer's disease. This final stage of Alzheimer's disease lasts one to three years, ending in the death of the patient.
