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Time Frame in Stages of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is a common form of dementia that manifests itself in the form of serious cognitive changes and memory loss. The disease is degenerative and progresses through seven stages, beginning with mild symptoms and ending with severe.

  1. No Impairment

    • Everything appears normal and there are no signs of mental or cognitive regressions.

    Minimal Impairment

    • In this stage, minor memory failures occur, but are hardly noticeable to family and friends of the victim. It is common for nearly 50 percent of people over the age of 65 to experience occasional memory loss, so it is considered a normal occurrence at this point.

    Mild Cognitive Impairment

    • Subtle difficulties begin to manifest themselves. Signs of this stage of Alzheimer's disease are problems with planning, organizational difficulties, misplacing objects, problems retrieving words and forgetting recently acquired knowledge. Depression is a common side effect of this stage, which can last anywhere from two to seven years.

    Late Confusional Stage

    • Mathematical problems develop early in this stage in addition to increased forgetfulness, problems with sequencing events (ordering food, shopping) and problems using some motor functions (such as driving). Victims usually exclude themselves from social situations due to embarrassment, while at the same time become defensive about their condition. This stage lasts approximately two years and is the time period when a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's is possible from a doctor.

    Early Dementia Stage

    • At this stage, the victim is no longer able to function on her own and requires assistance. She has difficulty remembering personal information, such as family history or contact information. Common tasks such as getting dressed and eating require supervision and occasional help. This stage generally lasts about one and a half years and is the last stage where there is a semblance of the victim's former self.

    Middle Dementia Stage

    • Victims exhibit a total lack of awareness for their surroundings and can no longer correctly remember past events. They eventually lose the ability to feed and clothe themselves, and bowel and bladder control problems become frequent. Close family members are no longer recognized, but are familiar. Paranoia and other drastic personality changes are also common. This stage usually lasts approximately two and a half years.

    Late Dementia Stage

    • During this last stage of Alzheimer's disease, victims usually can only communicate via moans, sighs, and small words. The health of the individual begins to slowly decline once sensory inputs are no longer recognizable by the brain. Patients tend to become fully bedridden and require complete around the clock supervision and treatment. This stage of the disease usually lasts between one and two and a half years.

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