What are the stage of Alzheimer's?

Question

What might be expected in the final stage before death?

I want to expand this question to experiences and events from those who live with Alzheimers and those who take care of them.

Answer 1

Stage 1:
No impairment (normal function)


Unimpaired individuals experience no memory problems and none are evident to a health care professional during a medical interview.




Stage 2:
Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease)


Individuals may feel as if they have memory lapses, especially in forgetting familiar words or names or the location of keys, eyeglasses or other everyday objects. But these problems are not evident during a medical examination or apparent to friends, family or co-workers.




Stage 3:
Mild cognitive decline
Early-stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms


Friends, family or co-workers begin to notice deficiencies. Problems with memory or concentration may be measurable in clinical testing or discernible during a detailed medical interview. Common difficulties include:

Word- or name-finding problems noticeable to family or close associates

Decreased ability to remember names when introduced to new people

Performance issues in social or work settings noticeable to family, friends or co-workers

Reading a passage and retaining little material

Losing or misplacing a valuable object

Decline in ability to plan or organize




Stage 4:
Moderate cognitive decline
(Mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease)


At this stage, a careful medical interview detects clear-cut deficiencies in the following areas:

Decreased knowledge of recent occasions or current events

Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic-for example, to count backward from 75 by 7s

Decreased capacity to perform complex tasks, such as planning dinner for guests, paying bills and managing finances

Reduced memory of personal history

The affected individual may seem subdued and withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations




Stage 5:
Moderately severe cognitive decline
(Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)


Major gaps in memory and deficits in cognitive function emerge. Some assistance with day-to-day activities becomes essential. At this stage, individuals may:

Be unable during a medical interview to recall such important details as their current address, their telephone number or the name of the college or high school from which they graduated

Become confused about where they are or about the date, day of the week or season

Have trouble with less challenging mental arithmetic; for example, counting backward from 40 by 4s or from 20 by 2s

Need help choosing proper clothing for the season or the occasion

Usually retain substantial knowledge about themselves and know their own name and the names of their spouse or children

Usually require no assistance with eating or using the toilet




Stage 6:
Severe cognitive decline
(Moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)


Memory difficulties continue to worsen, significant personality changes may emerge and affected individuals need extensive help with customary daily activities. At this stage, individuals may:

Lose most awareness of recent experiences and events as well as of their surroundings

Recollect their personal history imperfectly, although they generally recall their own name

Occasionally forget the name of their spouse or primary caregiver but generally can distinguish familiar from unfamiliar faces

Need help getting dressed properly; without supervision, may make such errors as putting pajamas over daytime clothes or shoes on wrong feet

Experience disruption of their normal sleep/waking cycle

Need help with handling details of toileting (flushing toilet, wiping and disposing of tissue properly)

Have increasing episodes of urinary or fecal incontinence

Experience significant personality changes and behavioral symptoms, including suspiciousness and delusions (for example, believing that their caregiver is an impostor); hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there); or compulsive, repetitive behaviors such as hand-wringing or tissue shredding

Tend to wander and become lost




Stage 7:
Very severe cognitive decline
(Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease)


This is the final stage of the disease when individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, the ability to speak and, ultimately, the ability to control movement.

Frequently individuals lose their capacity for recognizable speech, although words or phrases may occasionally be uttered

Individuals need help with eating and toileting and there is general incontinence of urine

Individuals lose the ability to walk without assistance, then the ability to sit without support, the ability to smile, and the ability to hold their head up. Reflexes become abnormal and muscles grow rigid. Swallowing is impaired.

Answer 2

I was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers at age 65 - I began having problems with my memory, started losing things, having problems concentrating, forgetting what I was going to say in the middle of saying it, felt confused, angry, and frightened. I stayed at home and didn't even return phone calls from friends. Didn't want to see or talk to anyone. Was always tearful and distressed. I was diagnosed and placed on medication which really helps. (Aricept). I began getting better, then because I have other health problems, incuding chronic pain, and had to get my mind around having Alzheimers as well, I became deeply depressed to the point of being suicidal. I was hospitalized for a while and placed on further medication - Cymbalta and Depakote. I am still forgetful and lose things, but not to the degree that I was. I can talk without crying and have begun going back to Church - getting out a little. If you have a family member who you think may have Alzheimers, take them to a Neurologist who will know what tests to run to determine this for sure and if so, be sure they get Medication to help them. I feel like it saved my life and bought me a few more decent years. I guess this is not really answering your question about the stages of Alzheimers, but it is personal input that I hope will be helpful to you. I don't like to think about the final stages but I'll be watching as I need to know what to expect.

Answer 3

Expect about the same type of things that were present earlier in the Alzheimer patient before death.

Answer 4

Inability to communicate, move themselves in bed, trouble swallowing. Look for an Alzheimer's support group in your area, they can help.

Answer 5

Well, my boyfriends grandmother died last year with this problem. She really began to phase out towards the end and would just sit still and do nothing. If someone touched her she wouldn't even look at them, just kind of cringe. It's very sad to deal with.

Answer 6

nope idk