What Are The Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease?

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