Because Alzheimer's disease develops slowly, the symptoms often change or fluctuate with the different stages of the disorder over time. These changes can vary among people, but the problem continues to get worse and symptoms usually go from mild to moderate and finally end with the severe stage. Many people live with the disease for about eight to 10 years, but there are those who can live for 20 years, according to Alzheimer's Disease Research.
Step 1
Know that the early stage of the disease may last from two to four years. The person may get lost at times, repeat questions and conversations, take longer to finish daily tasks and lose or misplace personal objects. Other common changes include bad judgment about financial matters, withdrawing or losing interest in activities, becoming irritable when their changed way of doing things is interrupted and losing recent memory, according to the National Institute on Aging. The person may forget to pay for items or pay too much, forget to eat or have trouble organizing or thinking.
Step 2
Remember that memory problems are part of the normal aging process and may not necessarily indicate Alzheimer's disease. People will occasionally forget where they place objects or fail to remember certain events. With Alzheimer's, the person's symptoms are more severe and occur with greater frequency. They may forget the reasons for the objects they misplaced or the recent events. Their memory loss may begin to disrupt their daily lives.
Step 3
Recognize the person is entering the second or moderate stage when he or she can still do simple tasks but needs assistance in complicated matters. People in this stage of the disease may begin to forget their personal history and become more disoriented. Memories of the past and present may get mixed up and confused. They may not recognize people they once knew. Speech problems may begin at this stage. They may see or hear things that are not there. Forgetting who their spouse is or how to find rooms in their own home may start happening at this stage, which can last from two to 10 years.
Step 4
Be prepared for the final and severe stage, when Alzheimer's patients may lose the ability to feed themselves, speak, control bodily functions and recognize anyone, even close family members. Their communication problems worsen to the point that any memory is nearly absent. At this time, constant care is usually necessary. People in the last stage, which lasts about one to three years, may develop other illnesses, including infections and respiratory difficulties.
