Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease are often assumed to be the same thing, associated with aging. However, Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia and neither are a common or normal part of aging. Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells that affects their ability to communicate, which can affect thinking, behavior and feelings. Alzheimer's goes a step further, it is a degenerative brain disease that is caused by complex brain changes following cell damage and leads to dementia symptoms that gradually worsen over time.
Disease Progression and Stages of Alzheimer's
Early--Stage Alzheimer's (Mild)
In the early stage of Alzheimer's, a person may function independently. He or she may still drive, work and be part of social activities. Despite this, the person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects.
Common difficulties include:
Coming up with the right word or name.
Remembering names when introduced to new people.
Having difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings.
Forgetting material that was just read.
Losing or misplacing a valuable object.
Experiencing increased trouble with planning or organizing.
Middle--Stage Alzheimer's (Moderate)
Middle-stage Alzheimer's is typically the longest stage and can last for many years. During this stage, the dementia symptoms are more pronounced. the person may confuse words, get frustrated or angry, and act in unexpected ways, such as refusing to bathe. Damage to nerve cells in the brain can also make it difficult for the person to express thoughts and perform routine tasks without assistance.
Symptoms may include (but can vary):
Being forgetful of events or personal history.
Feeling moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations.
Being unable to recall information about themselves like their address or telephone number, and the high school or college they attended.
Experiencing confusion about where they are or what day it is.
Requiring help choosing proper clothing for the season or the occasion.
Having trouble controlling their bladder and bowels.
Experiencing changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night.
Showing an increased tendency to wander and become lost.
Demonstrating personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions or compulsive, repetitive behavior like hand-wringing or tissue shredding.
Late--Stage Alzheimer's (Severe)
In the final stage of the disease, dementia symptoms are severe. Individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. They may still say words or phrases, but communicating pain becomes difficult. As memory and cognitive skills continue to worsen, significant personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive care.
At this stage, symptoms can include:
Require around-the-clock assistance with daily personal care.
Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their surroundings.
Experience changes in physical abilities, including walking, sitting and, eventually, swallowing
Have difficulty communicating.
Become vulnerable to infections, especially pneumonia.
There's no cure for Alzheimer’s, which affects 1 in 3 seniors, but there are treatments that may change disease progression, and drug and non-drug options that may help treat symptoms. Medicare coverage, which is a common insurance used by seniors, of FDA-approved medications for Alzheimer’s disease has been blocked by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This decision prevents people who could benefit from treatments today from receiving them even if their doctor prescribes them.
Citation: Alzheimer's Association, https://www.alz.org/
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