The Stages Of Alzheimer’s

Current medical literature considers the causes of Alzheimer’s disease to be multiple and complex. Of these, the main risk factor that cannot be changed is age. The positive side is that research on this pathology has not ceased for decades, which allows us to state that there are a series of stages of Alzheimer’s with regard to its diagnosis and evolution.

In this neurodegenerative disease, the cognitive and behavioral deterioration of the person suffering from it is characteristic. Its onset is usually insidious, that is, it is a  pathology that progresses slowly and gradually; therefore, its symptoms are not evident from the start . Its course is progressive and usually occurs in adults, especially in the elderly.

pre-clinical phase

This phase is supported by evidence that the pathological process of the disease begins years before its clinical manifestation. Hence the insidious beginning we referred to in the previous paragraph. Let’s think about the importance of this step to discover treatments that can prevent further deterioration or even delay its evolution.

Although it is the least studied phase so far, it is known that it is a state in which molecular changes begin to occur, leading to a process of degeneration of neurons. However,  these changes are still insufficient to cause symptoms. Therefore, by preclinical Alzheimer’s we refer to a stage in which the person is still asymptomatic.

Alzheimer’s Stages

The stages that the patient with this disease goes through should be considered as a generic guide. This is because Alzheimer’s can affect each person differently.

Some may have more or less intense symptoms or simply go through these phases differently. Thus, once the disease is diagnosed, three stages of Alzheimer’s disease are distinguished:

Early stage (mild)

At this stage,  the person can function autonomously and independently : they can run errands, participate in social events or work. However, she may begin to feel that she is losing her memory because she forgets some words she uses regularly or spends too much time looking for everyday objects because she can’t remember where she left them last time.

At this point,  your closest environment may begin to notice your memory or concentration difficulties. The physician is able, based on clinical criteria, to conclude that the disease may be beginning to manifest itself.

Stages of Alzheimer’s: intermediate (moderate)

This stage of Alzheimer’s is the longest, as it can last for many years. Over the years, the person suffering from this disease will likely need more attention. This is because neuronal alterations make it difficult to properly express thoughts or emotions and perform daily tasks.

Often these people are in a bad mood, frustrated or angry for no apparent reason. It is also possible for their personality or behavior to change so that they behave in unexpected ways (not wanting to shower, for example). At this stage, it is common for people to confuse words or not remember details of their life that were especially important to them. For example, your phone number, your wedding date, the university you attended, where you are, or the day and year you are at.

All of this  increases the risk of losing track of time and space and therefore becoming disoriented or lost. This affects the need for a higher level of care from caregivers.

Final stage (severe)

The most severe stage of the disease greatly hinders these people’s ability to communicate with the environment. They may not be able to follow a conversation, articulate words, swallow or control body movements.

This means that they need continuous assistance to be able to carry out their daily activities, in addition to cleaning and personal care. Likewise, their cognitive abilities deteriorate and their vulnerability to certain infections, such  as pneumonia, increases.

The importance of early diagnosis

Life expectancy has increased in recent years, as has the quality of care. Therefore, it is expected that in the near future there will be a higher prevalence of this type of neurodegenerative disease.

In this sense, as the stages of Alzheimer’s are already known, one of the current lines of research is that of early diagnosis. The benefits that this would generate for the patient would be reflected at various levels and would have a direct impact on quality of life, since the cognitive deterioration characteristic of this pathology would decrease.