| Alzheimers is a progressive disease that can take up | | | | but not always. Some characterize this stages as mild |
| to a complete two decades to fully run its course. The | | | | Alzheimers. It is here that loss of personal history might |
| disease moves forward at its own pace, leaving | | | | begin along with an inability to handle challenging mental |
| devastation in its path. With an estimated five million | | | | tasks. |
| Americans diagnoses with this condition, there is little | | | | Stage 5 - It is very difficult to deny that problems exist |
| doubt the condition has impacted a tremendous | | | | when this stage is reached. Also known as "moderate" |
| number of people. How fast or slow the condition will | | | | Alzheimers, this stage delivers large memory gaps, |
| progress is never known, but there are marked stages | | | | difficulty with normal social functioning and even the |
| of Alzheimers. | | | | inability to recall names of family, friends and perhaps |
| The stages of Alzheimers number at seven, although | | | | even the patient's own name. Date and time confusion |
| they are often clumped into three - early, middle and | | | | might also be present. |
| end. Each one of the seven comes in its own time | | | | Stage 6 - This is considered an extension of the mid |
| with no two patients following exactly the same path. | | | | stage, however, the symptoms will become quite |
| There are some stereotypical markers for each of the | | | | harsh at this point. Some patients will have trouble |
| stages of Alzheimers, however. | | | | dressing and feeding themselves. It is very likely they |
| The stages of Alzheimers and their symptoms are: | | | | will be unable to recall names and they might be prone |
| Stage 1 - There are no visible symptoms during the | | | | to wandering. |
| earliest formation of Alzheimers. | | | | Stage 7 - This is the final of the stages of Alzheimers. |
| Stage 2 - This stage will present with very minor | | | | This one delivers some very serious blows for the |
| memory issues, but these problems are quite easily | | | | patient, but more generally the family members |
| brushed off to distraction, normal forgetfulness or other | | | | involved. Symptoms in this stage include loss of ability |
| similar causes. The signs here can include such things | | | | to recognize speech, total inability to eat and toilet |
| as misplacing items, forgetting words that should be | | | | without help and even an inability sit without help, smile |
| familiar and so on. The symptoms will not likely be | | | | and more. |
| noticeable to anyone since they are so easy to brush | | | | The stages of Alzheimers progress at their own pace |
| off. | | | | for each patient. The progression has been noted to |
| Stage 3 - It is at this point some people are diagnosed. | | | | take as much as 20 years, but has also been seen in |
| The symptoms here can include such things as | | | | as little as five. There is no way to tell in advance how |
| forgetting names, misplacing objects, loss of ability to | | | | slow or fast the stages will be progressed through. |
| plan, poor performance at work or in social settings | | | | The only thing that is certain at this point is that no cure |
| and even an inability to retain information or remember | | | | is known and treatments to slow the progression don't |
| names. | | | | work for everyone and they do not work indefinitely. |
| Stage 4 - Diagnosis is often made during this stage, | | | | |