No two people react the same with Alzheimer’s disease. Still, there are general characteristics to the disease that serve as guideposts. Knowing how the disease progresses can help you better prepare for what’s ahead.
There are three basic stages to Alzheimer’s disease:
Stage One:
People in the earliest stage will frequently forget recent events, such as where they put their glasses. They might forget they asked a question, and repeat it. They often have difficulty finding the right words to express themselves. Their overall ability to function independently is not affected. They can still work, drive a car, and manage household tasks.
Friends and relatives might not notice anything different about the person, but the person in this stage might be aware of memory problems. At this point in the Alzheimer's timeline, most people are able to compensate for memory lapses by keeping lists and sticking with familiar situations.
If friends and relatives do notice the person’s forgetfulness, they’ll likely dismiss it as normal or a sign of being too busy. It’s difficult at this stage to differentiate between normal forgetfulness, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease.
Stage Two:
In this stage, the disease progresses beyond short-term memory loss. For example, people with Alzheimer’s will forget that they even wear glasses. They will have difficulty with mildly complex tasks, like going grocery shopping. Their ability to reason becomes impaired. They get lost easily, even in familiar environments. Their behavior begins to change. They often appear apathetic.
People with Alzheimer’s doesn’t seem to be aware of their limitations. Family and friends will notice the loss of function.
Stage Three:
As the disease advances, the behavior of people with Alzheimer's changes dramatically. They can become agitated and verbally or physically aggressive. They can be anxious and hallucinate. They might repeat phrases over and over, or not be able to speak intelligibly. They might wander through the house at night, or wander away from home. They forget how to care for themselves, requiring help eating, dressing, and bathing.
They stop recognizing family and friends, and even themselves. They increasingly lose motor skills: fall easily, become incontinent, experience difficulty sitting up, and eventually become bed-ridden. Death follows, often due to a respiratory illness.
Stage Three is the most difficult stage for family and friends. It’s important to be patient and understanding, and to remain calm. Too much stimulation can worsen a person with Alzheimer’s. |
