Severe Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's can be a very difficult disease, especially when its severe symptoms set in. In the later stages symptoms range from moderate cognitive decline to complete loss of intelligible speech.

Memory

• Moderately severe symptoms include failing memory. Forgetting simple facts like phone numbers and addresses is common.

Functionability

• A decline in cognitive functions, like not being able to realize what day it is or decide on what clothes to wear, is another moderately severe symptom.

Personality Changes

• As cognitive decline becomes more severe, shifts in personality will occur. Delusions, hallucinations and suspicions will arise, and patients will usually become compulsive.

Impairments

• As Alzheimer's becomes more severe, patients develop impairments that prevent them from performing simple functions like going to the bathroom or getting dressed. They will also forget names and lose awareness of their surroundings.

Disablements

• In the most severe stage of Alzheimer's, patients become mentally and physically disabled. They have no ability to speak, control their movements or recognize their environments.