Stages of Alzheimers Disease

A look at the stages of Alzheimers disease and what it could mean to a member of your family and how to spot alzheimer symptoms and signs in the early onset of this dementia based condition.

History of Alzheimers

Alzheimers disease was first recorded by the German scientist, Dr Alois Alzheimer, in the early 20th century. Alzheimers affects both men and women, aged between 40 and 70. 

Alzheimer Symptoms

Alzheimer symptoms are often confused with age-related problems. The symptoms of Alzheimers vary from individual, but there are some common symptoms that most patients suffer from. 

  • Memory Loss – The most common symptom of Alzheimer patients is memory loss. Patients find it difficult to remember facts that they could previously remember with ease. As the memory-loss becomes long-term, patients suffer from confusion.  
  • Abstract Thinking – People with Alzheimers often have problems with thinking in abstract terms. They may also have difficulty in recognising and dealing with numbers, such as solving basic addition and subtraction problems. 
  • Language Use – Patients slowly lose the ability to use language properly. Alzheimer patients often have difficulty expressing themselves or finding the right word that represents what they’re thinking. Eventually, they find it difficult to follow conversations and to read and write. 
  • Following Instructions – Alzheimers patients often have difficulty in following instructions, such as a recipe or directions. They may also have difficulty following verbal instructions given by a friend or family member.  
  • Disorientation – People who suffer from Alzheimers often get confused about the time and place. Sometimes they forget what time it is, or what date, or why they are in a certain place.  
  • Personality changes – Alzheimer patients sometimes undergo personality changes. They may become moody and irritable. Sometimes, they become suspicious, fearful and anxious. 
  • Loss of Bodily Functions – In later stages of the disease, patients’ senses are affected.  They start to lose control over bodily functions, both minor and major.
  • Forgetting Friends and Family – Patients who suffer from Alzheimers do not recognise their close family or friends in later stages of the disease.

Stages of Alzheimers

Alzheimers disease is categorised into four stages. These are: dementia, early dementia, moderate dementia and advanced dementia. The four stages are based on the progression of the disease.

Medical Symptoms of Alzheimers

People who suffer from Alzheimers have different nerve patterns and distinct abnormalities in their brain nerve cells. Most normal people do not have certain nerve fibres which have been discovered in Alzheimer patients. Scientists have discovered that Alzheimer patients have a nerve structure called the neuritic plaque, which consists of deteriorating nerve endings. Scientists have also discovered that Alzheimers patients have an abnormal protein, A-68, which is not present in non-Alzheimers patients.

Causes of Alzheimers

To a large extent, scientists do not understand much about Alzheimers. The precise cause of the disease has not yet been discovered. Alzheimers is thought to be hereditary. Some feel that Alzheimer disease might be related to a chemical deficiency in the patient. However, no conclusive findings have been made yet.

Cures for Alzheimers

Unfortunately, no cure for Alzheimers disease has been discovered yet.

Doctors suggest that a proper diet may stall the progress of the disease. However, there is no existing treatment that can stop or reverse Alzheimers.

As the disease progresses, patients lose the ability to take care of themselves. Families need to hire help to take care of Alzheimer patients, hospitalise them or place them in nursing homes.

Recently, support groups are being formed for the families of Alzheimers patients.