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Article #39: What Are The Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease?

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An estimated 23,000 people die each year situations and often growing anxiety and
in the United States from Alzheimer's denial. Memory and recall difficulties
disease. It is the leading cause of become apparent, concentration becomes
dementia in the elderly, making it the effected and there is generally a loss of
eighth leading cause of death among that productivity.
age demographic. Alzheimer's cannot Stage 4 or mild Alzheimer's, disease is
currently be cured, but understanding the characterized by a flattening of mood and
seven stages of the disease can help continued denial of the disorder.
researchers, care-giving family members Familiar faces, following directions to
and those afflicted. frequently visited places and orientation
Alzheimer's disease most often affects of persona and place are still intact,
those over 65. It is extremely rare for but assistance with complicated tasks
the conditioner to occur earlier. becomes necessary.
Alzheimer's affects the cortical tissues Stage 5 Alzheimer's disease is considered
of the brain, causing them to atrophy. On moderate and the person in this stage can
autopsy tangled webs of brain tissue no longer get along in daily life without
filaments (neurofibrillary tangles) and the assistance of others. They can
patches of degenerative nerve endings, remember major information about them
called senile plaques are found. It is selves and others but recall of newer
believed that these abnormalities cause a information is difficult. An individual
disruption of the electrical impulses in at stage 5 needs assistance picking
the brain. proper attire and making most decisions.
It is a devastating disease, robbing the Stage 6 is considered moderately severe
individual of their memories and ability and people begin to forget large amounts
to recognize their loved ones or care of information about themselves and
even to complete simple tasks for others including the names of their
themselves, but there are treatments spouses and children. They will need help
available to help slow the course of with all the activities of daily living
Alzheimer's disease and researchers are and disturbed sleep patterns becomes
working hard to find a cure. problematic and delusional or obsessive
Understanding the stages of the disease behavior, acute anxiety and violent
is the key to both. behavior can arise.
There have been a number of attempts to Stage 7 is the last stage of the disease,
describe the disease using a medical and in severe Alzheimer's disease speech
model but for caregivers and the rest of is reduced to only a few words and is
us it is easier to use the seven step mostly unintelligible. Individuals lose
functional stages to understand the their ability to sit up or walk. They
changes brought on by the progression of cannot smile and even lose their ability
the disease. to hold up their heads. The brain seems
Stage 1 is described as a normally unable to direct the movement of the
functioning adult without noticeable body.
symptoms and no changes in memory. Alzheimer's disease isn't curable but
Stage 2 is often mistaken as part of the there are treatments that can slow its
normal aging process. The individual progress and promising research that may
notices their declining memory issues and one day lead to a cure. Understanding the
some functional loss as well. They may stages of the disease and its progression
have trouble remembering the names of can help those who are afflicted, their
familiar people and places. loved ones and researchers ensure the
Stage 3 is defined as early Alzheimer's best treatment now and promote hope for
disease. There is progressive difficulty the future.
with involved tasks in demanding






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