ADFM Dementia Helpline : +603-7931 5850

As time passes…
It is difficult to place a patient with Alzheimer’s disease in a specific stage. However, symptoms seem to progress in a  recognizable pattern and these stages provided a framework for under-standing the disease. It is important to remember they are not uniform in every patient and the stages often overlap.

The three general stages of Alzheimer’s Disease are :

First Stage – 2 to 4 years leading up to and including diagnosis

Second Stage – 2 to 10 years after diagnosis (longest stage)

Terminal Stage – 1 to 3 years

 

First Stage - 2 to 4 years leading up to and including diagnosis

Symptoms

– Recent memory loss begins to affect job performance
– What was he or she just told to do?
– Confusion about places – gets lost on way to work
– Loses spontaneity, the spark or zest for life.
– Loses initiative – can’t start anything.
– Mood/personality changes – patient becomes anxious about symptoms, avoids people.
– Poor judgment – makes bad decisions.
– Takes longer with routine chores.
– Trouble handling money, paying bills.

Examples

– Forgets which bills are paid. Can’t remember phone numbers.
– Loses things. Can’t remember grocery list.
– Arrives at wrong time or place, or constantly rechecks calendar.
– Not the same personality – withdrawn, disinterested.
– Spends all day making dinner and forgets to serve several courses.
– Pays the bills three times over, or doesn’t pay for three months.

 

Second Stage - 2 to 10 years after diagnosis (longest stage)

Symptoms

– Increasing memory loss and confusion
– Shorter attention span.
– Problems recognizing close friends and/or family.
– Repetitive statements and /or movements.
– Restless, especially in late afternoon and at night.
– Occasional muscle twitches or jerking.
– Perceptual motor problems.
– Difficulty organizing thoughts, thinking logically.
– Can’t find right words – makes up stories to fill in blanks.
– Problems with reading, writing and numbers.
– May be suspicious. irritable, fidgety, teary or silly.
– Loss of impulse control – sloppy – won’t bathe or afraid to bathe – trouble dressing.
– Gains and then loses weight.
– May see or hear things that are not there.
– Needs full-time supervision.

Examples

– Can’t remember visits immediately after you leave.
– Repetitive movements or statements.
– Sleeps often; awakens frequently at night and may get up and wander.
– Perceptual motor problems – Can’t follow written signs, write name, add or
. subtract.
– Suspicious – May accuse spouse of hiding things, infidelity; may act childish.
– Loss of impulse control – Sloppier table manners. May undress at
. inappropriate times or in the wrong place.
– Huge appetite for junk food and other people’s food; forgets when last meal
. was eaten, then gradually loses interest in food.

 

Terminal Stage - 1 to 3 years

Symptoms

– Can’t recognize family or image of self in mirror.
– Loses weight even with good diet.
– Little capacity for self care.
– Can’t communicate with words.
– May put everything in mouth or touch everything.
– Can’t control bowels, bladder.
– May have seizures, experience difficulty with swallowing, skin infections.

Examples

– Looks in mirror and talks to own image
– Needs help with bathing, dressing, eating and toileting.
– May groan, scream or make grunting sounds.
– Sleeps more.

 

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