Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects human memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms can eventually become severe enough, disrupting daily tasks.
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for serious loss of memory and other cognitive abilities. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60–80% of cases of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. The biggest known risk factor is increasing age, and most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 years of age or older. Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be a young onset Alzheimer’s disease if it affects someone under 65 years of age. Alzheimer’s disease that occurs at a younger age can also be called early-onset Alzheimer’s. People with young Alzheimer’s disease can be in the early, middle, or late stages of the disease.
There is no cure for the disease, but two treatments — aducanumab (Aduhelm®) and lecanemab (Leqembi®) — show that removing beta-amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, from the brain reduces cognitive and functional decline in people living with Alzheimer’s disease. early — (Aducanumab will be discontinued on November 1, 2024. Please contact your provider regarding treatment options.) Other treatments may temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms, and improve the quality of life for Alzheimer’s sufferers and their caregivers. There are many efforts around the world to find better ways to treat this disease, delay the onset of the disease, and prevent its progression.
Alzheimer’s disease tends to develop slowly and gradually worsen over several years. Eventually, Alzheimer’s disease affects most areas of the human brain. Memory, thinking, judgement, language, problem solving, personality and movement can all be affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
There are 5 stages involved in Alzheimer’s disease. They include:
- Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.
- Mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Severe dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect intellectual and social abilities and interfere with daily functioning.
It is important to know that these stages are only generalizations. This disease is a continuous process. Each person has a different experience with Alzheimer’s and its symptoms.
Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
You and those around you will not be aware of the symptoms during this stage.
This stage of Alzheimer’s can last for years, perhaps even decades. Although you won’t see any changes, new imaging technology of the brain can identify amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Tangles develop when the tau protein changes shape and assembles into a structure. These are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Genetic testing can also tell you whether you have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. These tests are not recommended for everyone. You and your health care provider can discuss whether genetic testing would be beneficial for you.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease
People with mild cognitive impairment experience slight changes in their memory and thinking skills. This change is not significant enough to affect work or relationships. People with MCI may experience memory loss when receiving information that would normally be easy to remember. This might include conversations, current events, or appointments.
People with MCI may also have difficulty assessing the amount of time required for a task. They may have difficulty judging the number or sequence of steps necessary to complete a task. The ability to make sound decisions can become more difficult.
Mild Dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease
In the mild stage of dementia, sufferers may experience:
- Loss of memory of recent events.
Sufferers may have trouble remembering newly learned information. They may ask the same questions over and over.
Many people experience errors in decision making, such as when making financial decisions.
- Personality changes.
People may become quiet or withdraw, especially in socially challenging situations. They may get irritable or angry easily even though that is not normal for them. Reduced motivation to complete assignments is also common.
- Difficulty managing and expressing thoughts.
At this stage, people may not be able to find appropriate words to describe an object. They struggle to express ideas clearly.
- Lost or misplaced items.
Everyone is having more and more difficulty finding a way out, even in familiar places. Losing or misplacing items, including valuables, is also a common thing.
Moderate Dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease
Sufferers become increasingly confused and forgetful. They begin to need more assistance with daily activities and self-care.
People with moderate dementia in Alzheimer’s disease will:
- Exhibit increasingly poor judgment and increased confusion
- Individuals forget where they are, the day of the week, or the season. They may confuse close family members or friends or mistake strangers for family.
They may wander, perhaps seeking a more familiar environment. This behavior makes it unsafe to leave them alone.
- Experience more memory loss
Sufferers will forget details of their personal history, such as their address, telephone number, or where they went to school. They repeat favorite stories or make up stories to fill in the gaps in memory.
- Need assistance with some daily activities.
They may need help in choosing appropriate clothing for the occasion. Alzheimer’s sufferers in this stage may also need assistance with daily activities. Some people occasionally lose control of their bladder or bowel movements.
- Experience significant changes in personality and behavior.
It’s not unusual for people in moderate stages of dementia to develop unfounded suspicions. For example, they may believe that friends, family, or professional caregivers steal from them. Or they may accuse their partner of infidelity. It’s also possible that they see or hear things that aren’t there.
Sufferers often become restless, particularly in the afternoon. Some people may have outbursts of aggressive physical behavior.
Severe Dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease
In the final stages of the disease, known as severe dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, mental function continues to decline. This disease also has an increasing impact on movement and physical abilities.
In end-stage severe dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, people will:
- Losing the ability to communicate.
The sufferer can no longer communicate or speak in a reasonable manner. They may only say words or phrases occasionally.
- Need help with daily personal care activities. This includes total help with eating, dressing, using the bathroom, and all other daily self-care tasks.
- Experiencing a decline in physical abilities.
People in this stage may be unable to walk without help. They may not even be able to sit or lift their head without assistance. Muscles may become stiff and reflexes may be irregular. Ultimately, a person loses the ability to swallow and control bladder and bowel function.
