Stages of Alzheimer’s

Changes in the brain related to Alzheimer's begin years before any signs of the disease.

The stages are separated into three categories: mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease. It may be difficult to place a person with Alzheimer's in a specific stage as stages may overlap. Although the onset of Alzheimer's disease cannot yet be stopped or reversed, an early diagnosis can allow a person the opportunity to live well with the disease for as long as possible and plan for the future.

Mild Alzheimer's disease

In the early stage of Alzheimer's, a person may still drive, work and participate in social activities. Despite this, the person may feel as if they are having memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects.

Common difficulties include:

Problems coming up with the right word or name
Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people
Challenges performing tasks in social or work settings
Forgetting material that has just been read
Losing or misplacing objects
Increasing trouble with planning or organising

Moderate Alzheimer's disease

Moderate Alzheimer's is typically the longest stage and can last for many years. As the disease progresses, the person with Alzheimer's will require a greater level of care.

During this stage, the symptoms are more pronounced. A person may have greater difficulty performing tasks, but they may still remember significant details about their life.

You may notice the person with Alzheimer's confusing words, getting frustrated or angry, or acting in unexpected ways. Damage to nerve cells in the brain can make it difficult to express thoughts and perform routine tasks.

At this point, symptoms will be noticeable to others and may include:

Forgetfulness of events and personal history
Feeling moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations
Being unable to recall their own address or telephone number
Confusion about where they are or what day it is
The need for help choosing proper clothing for the season or occasion
Trouble controlling bladder and bowels
Changes in sleep patterns
Personality and behavioural changes, including suspiciousness and delusions or compulsive, repetitive behaviour

Severe Alzheimer's disease

In the final stage, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, hold a conversation and, eventually, control movement. They may still say words or phrases, but communicating pain becomes difficult.

As memory and cognitive skills continue to worsen, significant personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive help with daily activities.

At this stage, individuals may:

Need round-the-clock assistance with daily activities and personal care
Lose awareness of recent experiences and their surroundings
Experience changes in physical abilities, including the ability to walk, sit and, eventually, swallow
Have increasing difficulty communicating
Become vulnerable to infections, especially pneumonia