If someone you care about has received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, you may be wondering what to expect as the illness takes its course. First of all, you should know that Alzheimer’s disease affects everyone differently, so people go through the various stages at different rates. On average, the duration of the disease is 7-10 years, although this can be shortened when diagnosis is delayed, and it may be much longer in some people. And while it’s true that people with the illness will lose many of the abilities they once had, it’s best to focus on the abilities that remain so you can make the most of the time you have together.
Alzheimer's disease can be divided into the following 4 main stages:
When Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed early, the loss of abilities is often mild. At this stage, people with the disease, as well as their family, friends, co-workers, and medical practitioners, start to notice that they are struggling with communicating and logical thinking. At this stage, people can often continue living as they did before. They should be encouraged to participate in their own health decisions and help plan for their future care. In addition to medications, healthy lifestyle choices – including eating well, keeping mentally and physically active, staying connected to other people and finding ways to reduce stress – may slow the progression of the disease. Treatments may work best when started early, allowing a person with the disease more time to continue living independently.
The following table will help you understand the types of symptoms that occur at the mild stage of Alzheimer's disease:
| Symptom | What may occur |
|---|---|
Cognitive and memory problems may appear |
|
Communication problems and mild forgetfulness begin |
|
Personality changes occur |
|
Physical changes begin |
|
By the time the disease is diagnosed, it’s often already in the moderate or mid-stage. If that’s the case with someone you care about, then you’ve probably noticed a considerable decline in his or her functioning, memory and cognition, and even drastic personality changes. There has probably also been a marked change in appearance and hygiene, and he or she may well need a lot of help taking care of himself or herself.
This moderate stage of the disease is the longest, and medication has proven useful to treat the illness throughout this stage. The range of problems that may occur at the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease include:
| Symptom | What may occur |
|---|---|
Significant cognitive decline and memory problems |
|
Impaired communication skills |
|
Personality changes become more significant |
|
Idiosyncratic behaviours evolve |
|
Increasing dependence and need for help with the activities of daily living |
|
Physical decline progresses |
|
By this stage, the progression of cognitive decline and the loss of independence may make the individual with the disease seem like a completely different person. The behaviours of the earlier stages disappear, and the person may seem more subdued. He or she is completely dependent on others for even the most basic activities of daily living, and the cognitive impairment is severe. At this point, what’s most important is providing support and ensuring that the person with the disease is comfortable and enjoying the highest quality of life possible.
| Symptom | What may occur |
|---|---|
Cognitive and memory problems further decline |
|
Verbal skills are nearly gone |
|
Voluntary control of the body increasingly disappears |
|
Complete dependence on others |
|
Health declines considerably |
|
The body shuts down |
|
Idiosyncratic behaviours |
|
As a terminal illness, Alzheimer’s disease progresses until the end of life, when extensive care is required. At that point, the focus should be on palliative care – promoting quality of life and comfort – by addressing the person’s physical and emotional needs.
| Symptom | What may occur |
|---|---|
Physical changes |
|
Emotional issues |
|
Next: Treatment options
