Familiar with the stages of Alzheimers?

Question

Wondered if anyone dealing with a family member with Alzheimers could tell me how far along in the disease a person can't remember the name of familiar foods. Also how bad are they when they don't eat properly because they can't seem to figure out what they want to eat because they can't draw a connection between naming the food and choosing to eat it.

We are pretty sure my mom in law has Alzheimers but we are concerned with the changes we see in her. Her children won't confront her with her problems so dealing with her is a guessing game.

All three of you have given me very good and thoughtful responses. My thanks to each of you. I "recognize" my mom-in-law in something each of you posted. Food for thought.

I had considered dementia due to the characteristics she displays, so it could very well be a combination of the two.

Since I can only pick one, I wanted to add this info so all responders know I appreciate the insight. Thank you.

Answer 1

The issue you are describing is called 'agnosia', the loss of recognition associated with Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's can seem like a mild bit of memory loss to a more pervasive loss of short-term memory, then of familiar and well-known skills or objects or persons. It sounds like that's what your mom-in-law is dealing with.

Alzheimer's has some other symptoms that accompany it, however, that delineate it from simple aging. Is she disoriented, does she have issues with other language (like everyday conversation?), and has her basic behavior changed? Is she more prone to outbursts, or lack of inhibition?

If you're seeing these signs, then you may have hit the diagnosis on the head. If she's having issues with food and drink, it may be time to bring a doctor in on it...people with Alzheimer's aren't great at taking care of themselves, and as the disease goes on, they can often become dehydrated and very ill.

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I went through the same thing with my late grandmother. Be aware that sometimes mild dementia accompanies Alzheimer's, as well, and people with it may wander off on errands and then forget where they were going or where they live, as if they're sleepwalking. Again, you have my hopes for the best.

Answer 2

my family is going through that with my grandmother. she is 90 years old and has the beginning stages of alzheimers. not every case is the same. my grandmother started with the not remembering simple things. then over time it went to forgetting things in short term memory. but she can tell you anything about what happened years and years ago. she has totally lost her short term memory, but has total control over her long term memory. then it has gotten to the stage where her brain is telling her not to eat anymore and at the same time...she also has dememntia. alzheimers is kind of hard to watch. everyday is different. it just depends which part of the brain that it is attacking. its hard to watch her like this. with the care of her doctor, she was put on 2 kinds of medicine for her alzheimers. one was to try and slow the progress down. i think one of the meds in aricept. check with the doctor and ask about it. also, in some alzheimers patients, they will start to wander off to places. be careful about that. they really should not be left alone. sometimes they will get mean or angry for no reason with the ones that they are the closest to, usually the one who takes care of them. its not always. its only when they get in one of their moods. it may hurt your feelings, but dont take it personally. one thing that my family found helpful was to do some research on the internet about it and look in your local newspaper for some support groups that you may be able to attend just to get the information. it was really helpful for us on how to deal with it.

Answer 3

You are here: Life Challenges >> Learn More About Alzheimer's Support! >> Alzheimers Disease Stages

What are the Alzheimers disease stages?

Alzheimer’s disease stages are characterized by people who exhibit symptoms in seven different stages, and each stage is progressively worse until the ultimate end of life within the seventh and final stage. In a list below, each of the seven stages are explained more thoroughly. But there are some symptoms of Alzheimer’s that are easily confused with actions normal to aging people.

Before you conclude that your loved-one has Alzheimer’s, remember that some forgetfulness and moodiness is normal for people of all ages.

Here is a list of some things that people do as part of the normal aging process:

* Temporarily misplacing keys or other household items but locating them later
* Forgetting appointments or names, but remembering them later
* Not remembering how to perform a certain task
* Searching for a word occasionally, but remembering it later
* Forgetting the date or day of the week
* Making normal mistakes in judgment
* Having problems with more complex math problems due to intellectual capabilities
* Experiencing normal mood swings of sadness happiness or irritability
* Occasionally not wanting to do housework, go to work, or perform social obligations.

If you or your loved one show symptoms beyond those normal to people who are aging, perhaps it’s time to seek professional guidance. A healthcare professional will be more able to diagnose which stage, if any, of Alzheimer’s a person is in. Below is a list of the symptoms manifested in each of the seven Alzheimer’s disease stages:

1. There is no impairment, and the patient is considered to be functioning in a normal manner when the patient is asked questions in a medical interview by a health care professional.

2. Individual begins to have memory lapses, forgetting familiar words or the location of objects, yet, these symptoms are not evident during a medical examination or apparent to loved ones.

3. There are problems with memory or concentration in word- or name-finding. The individual cannot remember names when introduced to new people. Performance issues become apparent in social or work settings or while reading a passage, the individual retains little material. The inability to plan or organize becomes evident.

4. The progression is considered mild, but during an interview, there is detected decreased knowledge of recent occasions or current events and a reduced memory of personal history. The patient may become withdrawn especially in socially or mentally-challenging situations;

5. This is considered the mid-stage level where there are major gaps in memory and reasoning, and some assistance is needed with day-to-day activities. The patient may not be able to recall her current address, telephone number, or the name of the school from which she graduated; there may be confusion about the date, day of the week, or season. The patient has trouble with math and needs help in choosing the correct clothing for the proper season.

6. This stage is considered severe or mid-stage. Memory difficulties continue to worsen and significant personality changes may emerge. He may lose awareness of recent experiences and events as well as of his surroundings; recollection of his personal history becomes imperfect, but the patient may know his name. The patient may occasionally forget the name of his spouse or primary caregiver, but can distinguish familiar from unfamiliar faces. He may need help getting dressed properly. He may experience disruption of his normal sleep/waking cycle, need help with handling details of toileting, have increasing episodes of urinary or fecal incontinence, experience significant personality changes and behavioral symptoms, and tend to wander and get lost.

7. This is the last stage of the Alzheimer’s disease stages where patients lose their capacity for recognizable speech. They may need help eating and toileting, and may lose the ability to walk without assistance, smile or hold their head up. Reflexes become abnormal and muscles grow rigid. Swallowing is impaired.

Whether your loved one is showing normal signs of aging or displaying several advanced symptoms of Alzheimer’s, please remember that we serve a God who can give us rest from our burdens. He doesn’t always take those burdens from us, but we can stand on His promises that He does all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).