The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

Certainly, the medical profession has made great strides in understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease, however, treatment has not been perfected. There is no apparent reason why some patients decline faster than others.One thing is certain. The earlier Alzheimer's can be diagnosed, the sooner the progression of the symptoms can be slowed.

One tool which has been developed is the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) created by by Dr. Barry Reisberg, director of the New York University School of Medicines Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center. The scale uses the areas of functional loss, agitation as well as the ability to perform daily tasks as a means to define the progression of the disease. With such information, caregivers are better equipped to meet the needs of those who are afflicted with Alzheimer's.

Speaking from personal experience, when my father was slowly declining with this disease this information would have been invaluable to the main caregiver of his needs, my mother. As you see someone who was once full of vitality slowly deteriorate you are in an absolute state of denial.

Those of us who knew my dad prior to the onset of symptoms were not able to believe he was going through the total loss of intellectual reasoning, from which he would never recover.

The three stages of Alzheimer's are Mild Alzheimer's, Moderate Alzheimer's and Sever Alzheimer's.

In Mild Alzheimer's the symptoms can still allow a person to function such as still being able to drive. However, there may be some depression such as a loss of energy, loss of interest in familiar activities and difficulty in learning new concepts and ideas.

With Moderate Alzheimer's a person may forget facts and tend to repeat the same stories over and over again. The person may continuously ask the same questions. Agitation may become apparent as well as delusions and paranoid behaviors. This may be accompanied by a lack of personal hygiene and sleep patterns.

Severe Alzheimer's can be the most difficult for caregivers. This stage can be extremely hard on all people who had relationships with the patient. Signs could include making inappropriate sounds and groans. The person may refuse to be cooperative in any way. There may be an inability to recognize familiar persons, places or things. All activities of daily life are nearly impossible and for all practical purposes, a normal life has ceased.

I witnessed my father go through all of these stages to the point where he required placement in a secure facility that would be able to meet his unique needs. He was unable to remain home any longer.

The most important notion is to be able to recognize these symptoms and to contact a doctor as soon as any of these symptoms occur. Remember Alzheimer's can strike anyone. There is no cure, but early diagnosis can help to decelerate the symptoms.