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Advanced Alzheimer's Symptoms

Alzheimer's disease, which attacks the human brain and is the most common form of dementia, accounts for about 50 to 70 percent of all cases of dementia. Dementia refers to loss of memory and cognitive abilities that become so severe that they negatively impact daily life. Memory, cognitive and behavioral problems arise as Alzheimer's disease destroys brain cells. As the disease worsens, symptoms become extremely problematic, affecting one's work, hobbies and social life. Alzheimer's disease eventually leads to death and currently ranks as the seventh leading cause of death for Americans.

  1. Severe Cognitive Decline

    • Individuals start experiencing severe Alzheimer's symptoms in the final two stages of the disease, stages six and seven. At this point, individuals experience severe to very severe cognitive decline. Memory worsens to the point of losing it completely. Personality and behavioral changes occur, and the need for daily assistance increases as individuals further decline into stage seven of the disease.

    Familiarity

    • If diagnosed at stage six of the disease, individuals may have some difficulty recalling personal history perfectly. Occasionally, the patient forgets the name of a spouse or his primary caregiver. However, the ability to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar faces is still present. It is not uncommon for people at this stage to wander or become lost. In the final stage of the disease, individuals are unable to respond appropriately or speak to people in their surrounding environment. Furthermore, individuals cannot recognize loved ones, primary care providers or themselves.

    Personality Change

    • Loved ones will see significant personality and behavioral changes in individuals diagnosed as severe to very severe. Some of the symptoms include: delusional and suspicious behavior, where individuals believe caregivers are impostors; hallucinations, hearing and seeing people and things not actually present; compulsive or repetitive behaviors, such as wringing the hands or shredding tissue; depression; moodiness; distrust; and aggressiveness and social withdrawal. In the end, aside from a few audible phrases, patients completely lose their ability to communicate with anyone.

    Daily Tasks

    • Assistance with daily dress becomes a necessity at some point. Typically, patients in stage six tend to put their shoes on the wrong feet or put one layer of clothes over another without realizing the error made. In stage seven, because patients cannot control motion or bodily movements, they are extremely rigid in their reflexes and muscles and cannot walk unassisted or sit without support; these patients require daily assistance in everyday tasks.

    Toileting

    • At stage six, individuals may need help with toileting. This includes flushing the toilet or possibly wiping and properly disposing of tissue. Urinary and fecal incontinence episodes become more common. Patients in stage seven regularly experience loose bowels and bladder incontinency and, therefore, require help with toileting.

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