Stages of Alzheimer's

Although Alzheimer's disease has a recognizable progression of symptoms, it is often difficult to determine which stage a patient is in, they frequently overlap. However, a basic knowledge of the stages will help the caregiver to better understand what is happening and, hopefully, be able to make more appropriate responses.

The Seven Stages of Alzheimer's, or Global Deterioration Scale developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg, are briefly:

(1) No symptoms of Alzheimer's.

(2) Mild forgetfulness, vague about familiar things, forgets well known names.

(3) Mild confusion, gets lost going to familiar places, work suffers, has trouble concentrating, loses things.

(4) Cannot handle money, avoids complex tasks, withdraws from challenging situations.

(5) Dementia sets in, needs assistance in grooming, confused about times and dates.

(6) Severe decline, forgets name of spouse, entirely dependent, trouble with normal sleep pattern.

(7) Verbal abilities are lost, needs help eating and going to the bathroom, loses ability to walk.


Some practitioners use three stages.

Early Stage may last 2 to 4 years and will include:

Recent memory loss that affects job performance.

Gets lost on the way to work.

Loses a zest for life.

Becomes anxious and has mood and personality changes.

Makes bad decisions.

Trouble handling money.

Middle Stage is the longest, from 2 to 10 years, and includes:

Shorter attention span.

Repetitive statements and movements.

Restlessness at night.

Makes up stories.

Becomes suspicious, irritable and fidgety.

Afraid to bathe and trouble dressing.

Gains and loses weight.

Sees and hears things that are not there.

Requires full-time supervision.

Late Stage lasts about 1 to 3 years and the patient:

Cannot recognize family or self in mirror.

Continues to lose weight even while eating well.

Cannot communicate with words.

Loses bladder and bowel control.

Sleeps more.

Don't think of these time periods as an absolute. Some patients go through them in a very short time; others live with the disease for over twenty years.

Alzheimer's Outreach
www.zarcrom.com/users/alzheimers/st1.html

Encore Senior Living
http://www.encoresl.com/7stages.asp

The Ribbon
http://www.theribbon.com/articles/3stages.asp

Alzheimer Association
http://www.alz.org/AboutAD/Stages.asp

Geriatric Resources, Inc.
http://geriatric-resources.com/html/gds.html

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