Alzheimer’s disease symptoms vary widely depending upon how far along the disease is in your loved one. Experts divide the stages of Alzheimer’s into seven parts:

#1 No Impairment

After diagnosis, the patient may not show any memory issues at all. An interview with a doctor may not reveal any symptoms of dementia yet.

#2 Very Mild Cognitive Decline

The patient may think that he is having lapses of memory. He might forget words that are familiar or where common objects are located in the house. However, no real dementia signs are able to be detected during a medical examination or during conversations with family.

#3 Mild Cognitive Decline

This is the stage where friends and family may start to notice that something is wrong. A medical interview with your loved one may be able to discern some problems with memory and concentration. Some of the more common problems at this stage include:

  • Problems coming up with a word
  • Not being able to remember names when new people are introduced
  • Having trouble doing tasks in work and social settings
  • Forgetting material that she just read
  • Often losing valuable objects
  • Difficulty with planning and organization

#4 Moderate Cognitive Decline

At this time, a doctor should be able to detect obvious symptoms during a medical interview, including:

  • Forgetting events in the recent past
  • Not able to to perform difficult mental math, such as counting backwards from 100 by sixes
  • Difficulty in planning complicated tasks, such as making dinner, managing finances or paying bills
  • Forgetting her own personal history
  • Becoming very moody and withdrawn

Alzheimers Concept Horizontal

#5 Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline

Gaps in memory will be very pronounced. Your loved one will now need help with daily living. She will probably have trouble with these things:

  • Cannot remember her address or phone number
  • Confused about which day it is
  • Cannot do simple mental arithmetic, such as count backwards from 40 by fours
  • Needs help with choosing appropriate clothes

Still, at this stage, she should be able to remember details about their lives and their families.

#6 Severe Cognitive Decline

Memory gets worse, and the personality of the person may change a great deal:

  • Loses awareness of surroundings and recent experiences
  • Can remember her name but not her personal history
  • Can’t remember names, but can recognize faces
  • Needs help with dressing
  • Needs help with the toilet (consider the UriBag Female Urinal)
  • Has more trouble controlling bowels and bladder
  • May wander and become lost (consider the Wireless Wander Door Alarm)

#7 Very Severe Cognitive Decline

In the final stages, your loved one may not be able to respond to her environment, to control movement and to have a conversation. She still may be able to say some words or phrases, however.

Alzheimer’s disease is obviously very difficult to deal with as a caregiver, but with proper planning and the use of helpful Alzheimer’s aids and products, the disease is more manageable.