Are you worried a loved one might have Alzheimer’s?
Anyone with Alzheimer’s must get the correct type of help to continue to live comfortable and fulfilled lives. But most of us don’t know what to expect with Alzheimer’s, which can make understanding how to help a difficult task.
Contact a health care provider immediately if you notice the symptoms outlined below. This blog is here to help you understand dementia and recognize the seven stages of Alzheimer’s.
Defining Dementia
Dementia is a broad term that describes a range of cognitive impairments that severely affect memory, thinking, social abilities, and daily life.
Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80 percent of cases. However, there are several other types of dementia as well, each with unique characteristics.
The top four other types of dementia include:
1. Vascular Dementia: Often caused by strokes or other conditions that block or reduce blood flow to the brain.
2. Lewy Body Dementia: Characterized by abnormal protein deposits in the brain, leading to symptoms similar to both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
3. Frontotemporal Dementia: Involves damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, affecting personality, behavior, and language.
4. Mixed Dementia: A combination of two or more types of dementia, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
If you suspect a loved one may have dementia, it’s crucial to contact a health care provider for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate support.
Remember, no two journeys with dementia stages are the same; some individuals may progress faster than others. However, it is typical for all dementias, especially Alzheimer’s, to move through seven stages.
Understanding how to measure dementia can help you better support your loved one through each phase.
Pre-Alzheimer’s Stage
This section will look at the first three stages of Alzheimer’s. In the first three stages below, an individual is not considered to have a type of dementia.
1. No Impairment
At stage one, you can’t detect Alzheimer’s. A person will display no memory loss or impairment. There will be no symptoms evident of the disease. This stage is also referred to as “No Cognitive Decline.”
2. Very Mild Cognitive Decline
Over half of people 65+ in the US have subjective functional or cognitive issues. The nature of these subjective complaints is telling.
People with these symptoms believe they can’t remember friends’ or family members’ names like they used to ten or 20 years ago. They may also notice they can’t remember where they put things down.
It’s also common for them to say they experience subjective difficulty in concentration or find it hard to find the right words when talking.
The best term for this is age-related forgetfulness. These symptoms won’t be noticeable to those around them or anyone observing. Normal age-related memory lapses are usually benign. However, memory impairment that interferes with daily life is not normal aging.
3. Mild Cognitive Decline
At stage three, people experience increased levels of forgetfulness. They may also have more noticeable issues concentrating. These symptoms can manifest in decreased job performance for those still at work.
Others may struggle with paying bills or cleaning. They may start to get lost or struggle with problem-solving. At stage three, you’ll likely start noticing these symptoms as an outside family member.
Early-Stage Alzheimer’s
When reaching stage four, a person is categorized as having early-stage Alzheimer’s.
4. Moderate Cognitive Decline
At this stage, the first real signs of what we would recognize as Alzheimer’s are apparent. This is described as early-stage Alzheimer’s. In this stage, people will experience even more forgetfulness. Often, these events will involve remembering things that have happened recently.
They will also have increased issues with concentration and solving puzzles or problems. There will be issues with money management as well.
A person with dementia going to new or unfamiliar areas may struggle alone. They’ll have difficulty completing complicated tasks or expressing themselves in a well-organized way.
People in stage four may start to go into denial about their symptoms. As socialization becomes more difficult, they may retreat and withdraw from loved ones.
Health care providers can typically identify stage four patients with cognitive tests. They will conduct a thorough examination and interview process.
Mid-Stage Alzheimer’s
Stage five marks the beginning of the mid-stage Alzheimer’s phase, which continues through to the sixth stage.
5. Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline
Stage five is characterized by losing track of:
- Themselves
- Their location
- The time
- What they are doing
As dementia progresses, the person may struggle to remember addresses and telephone numbers, details of their past, or what sort of clothes to wear for the season or weather.
Here, you can help by setting out your loved one’s clothes for the morning. This will help your loved one continue to dress themselves and feel independent.
You may find that they may repeat questions more than once in quick succession. If this happens, answer them like usual in an even, reassuring tone. Often, it’s not because they want to know the answer. It’s to make sure you’re there.
Even when your loved one struggles to remember memories or facts, they can still tell stories. So, invite them to use their imagination, tell you a story, and listen to them.
Keeping your loved one physically and socially active can help slow the progressive symptoms of dementia. Moving to a memory care community can also help support you and your family member.
6. Severe Cognitive Decline
At stage six, your loved one will need care for their daily activities. They may start to forget recent events and the names of those closest to them.
Some people in stage six won’t remember much of their early life. They’ll also have problems with cognitive skills, like counting back from ten down to one.
Speech will diminish, and they may also experience incontinence. You will start to notice significant changes in their personality. Agitation, delusions, and anxiety are all common. It’s essential to remember that your loved one is not acting out to be malicious. It is part of the symptoms of the seven stages of Alzheimer’s.
Late-Stage Alzheimer’s
Stage seven makes up the last phase, which is considered late-stage Alzheimer’s.
7. Very Severe Cognitive Decline
This is the last part of the progression of Alzheimer’s. When people reach very severe cognitive decline, they have often lost the ability to communicate or speak.
They need help with most of their activities, ranging from:
- Eating
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Personal hygiene
- Mobility
At this point, the person will need dedicated and constantly available care.
Many people at stage seven also either can’t walk anymore or need a lot of help to do so. The speed of progression will vary from person to person, but you should familiarize yourselves with these stages.
Living with Alzheimer’s is a considerable challenge for the person with it and those around them. But knowing what to expect and what you can do will help relieve some of the stress and worry.
Don’t try to go through this journey alone. Find support groups and continue doing research. Consider professional help in a comforting senior living community.
Finding Support for Family Caregivers in Anchorage, AK
Do you want to ensure a loved one with Alzheimer’s gets the care and support they need? Contact us at Baxter Senior Living.
Our Anchorage memory care community is specifically designed for residents who require extra care due to Alzheimer’s and related dementia. We are here to support you.
