Stages
of Symptom Progression in Alzheimer's Disease
If you would like to print it out in plain text, click HERE
Stages
of Symptom Progression in Alzheimer's Disease
If you would like to print it out in plain text, click HERE
It is difficult
to place a patient with Alzheimer's disease in a specific stage. However,
symptoms seem to progress in a recognizable pattern and these stages provide
a framework for understanding the disease. It is important to remember
they are not uniform in every patient and the stages often overlap.
1. First stage - 2 to 4 years leading up to and including diagnosis.
Symptoms:
-Recent memory loss begins to affect job performance.
-What was he or she just told to do?
-Confusion about places
- gets lost on way to work.
-Loses initiative -can't start anything.
-Loses spontaneity, the spark or zest for life.
-Mood/personality changes
- patient becomes anxious about symptoms, avoids people.
-Poor judgment - makes bad decisions.
-Takes longer with routine chores
-Trouble handling money, paying bills.
Examples:
-Forgets which bills are paid. Can't remember phone numbers.
-Loses things; can't remember grocery list.
-Arrives at wrong time or place, or constantly rechecks calendar.
-"Mother's not the same - she's withdrawn, disinterested".
-She spent all day making dinner and forgot to serve several courses.
-She paid the bills three times over, or didn't pay for three months.
2. Second Stage - 2 to 10 years after diagnosis [longest stage]
Symptoms:
-Increasing memory loss and confusion.
-Shorter attention span.
-Problems recognizing close friends and/or family.
-Repetitive statements and/or movements.
-Restless, especially in late afternoon and at night.
-Occasional muscle twitches or jerking.
-Perceptual motor problems.
-Difficulty organizing thoughts, thinking logically.
-Can't find right words - makes up stories to fill in blanks.
-Problems with reading, writing and numbers.
-May be suspicious, irritable, fidgety, teary or silly.
-Loss of impulse control - sloppy - won't bathe or afraid to bathe - trouble dressing.
-Gains and then loses weight.
-May see or hear things that are not there.
-Needs full-time supervision.
Examples:
-Can't remember visits immediately after you leave.
-Repetitive movements or statements.
-Sleeps often; awakens frequently at night and may get up and wander.
-Perceptual motor problems - difficulty getting into a chair, setting the table.
-Can't find the right words.
-Problems with reading, numbers - can't follow written signs, write name, add or subtract.
-Suspicious - may accuse spouse of hiding things, infidelity, may act childish.
-Loss of impulse control - sloppier table manners. May undress at inappropriate times or in the wrong place.
-Huge appetite for junk food and other people's food; forgets when last meal was eaten, then gradually loses all interest in food.
3. Terminal Stage - 1 to 3 years.
Symptoms:
-Can't recognize family or image of self in mirror.
-Loses weight even with good diet.
-Little capacity for self care.
-Can't communicate with words.
-May put everything in mouth or touch everything.
-Can't control bowels or bladder.
-May have seizures, experience difficultly with swallowing, skin infections.
Examples:
-Looks in mirror and talks to own image.
-Needs help with bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting.
-May groan, scream or make grunting sounds.
-Sleeps more.
(c) copyright 1994
Greater San Antonio Chapter
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