Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive illness that destroys cognitive function, causing dementia. It begins with mild memory problems in early adulthood, gradually worsening as the disease progresses. Before the late stages of Alzheimer’s Disease develop, there are usually three stages: pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease, mild Alzheimer’s disease, and moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing these stages can help you recognize the signs or symptoms of this condition so you can seek treatment earlier and improve your quality of life throughout this chronic illness.
Pre-Clinical Alzheimer’s
If you or a loved one is showing signs of memory loss, it’s important to get tested for Alzheimer’s disease. If pre-clinical Alzheimer’s is diagnosed before symptoms have advanced, treatment may be more effective.
Pre-clinical Alzheimer’s is when someone has cognitive changes that are not yet severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia. The symptoms of pre-clinical Alzheimer’s include:
- Memory problems (forgetting recent events and having trouble with recollection)
- Challenges with language skills (finding words or speaking in complete sentences)
- Trouble focusing on tasks for too long; inability to multitask
Mild Alzheimer’s Disease
The first stage of Alzheimer’s is called mild cognitive decline. At this point, you may experience confusion, trouble making decisions and getting lost.
Memory loss is mild at this stage, but it can become a problem if it affects your daily life. Symptoms include forgetting the names of people you know well and directions home or to the store; you may also have trouble keeping track of recent events. These symptoms are subtle but may be noticeable to others around you (for example, a loved one might notice that they keep repeating stories).
You will likely experience some difficulty with tasks such as paying bills or balancing a checkbook; however, if someone else helps with these tasks, they should not take up much time on your part beyond simply following instructions given by another person (for example: “take out the trash” vs. “put away all my clothes”). You are still able to handle tasks like driving a car, but only under certain conditions (for example: if there is no traffic or bad weather).
Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease
Moderate Alzheimer’s is the next stage, and it usually begins with a memory decline. People with moderate Alzheimer’s may no longer be able to live independently, but they can still perform simple tasks such as grocery shopping or preparing meals.
In the later stages of this disease, you may notice that the person with moderate Alzheimer’s has trouble following conversations and asking questions about what is being discussed. They may also have mood swings, trouble sleeping or become more anxious than usual.
Severe Alzheimer’s Disease
Severe Alzheimer’s disease is the final stage of the disease. At this point, you will experience a complete loss of speech and communication skills, vision loss, mobility problems, and thought impairment. The symptoms are so severe that, at this point, it’s almost impossible to distinguish between Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. This stage is sometimes referred to as end-stage Alzheimer’s disease to reflect its highly advanced nature; however, some experts prefer not to use this term because they feel it misrepresents what patients experience during this time: they may still be able to function at a high level although their condition is very serious.
Conclusion
Our hope is that this article has helped you understand the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease. If you or someone you know is showing signs of memory loss, we encourage you to seek a diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional who can determine whether or not the symptoms are linked to Alzheimer’s Disease. Early detection and treatment are crucial for managing the disease and improving the quality of life for people with AD and their caregivers.
