What Are the Seven Stages of Dementia?
Dementia is a progressive mental or cognitive decline that has affected millions people
globally. It has been said that by 2050, this number is expected to increase to an estimated 131 million people.
Out of the various diseases that have dementia as one of their characteristics, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. The progression of dementia has been broken down into 7 different stages by the ‘Global Deterioration Scale (GDS)’.
Stage 1 (No cognitive decline)
During this stage, Alzheimer’s is not detectable and no memory problems or other symptoms of dementia are evident.
Stage 2 (Very mild cognitive decline)
The senior may notice minor memory problems or lose things around the house, although not to the point where the memory loss can easily be distinguished from normal age-related memory loss. The person will still do well on memory tests and the disease is unlikely to be detected by loved ones or physicians.
Stage 3 (Mild cognitive decline)
At this stage, the family members and friends of the senior may begin to notice cognitive problems. Performance on memory tests are affected and physicians will be able to detect impaired cognitive function. People in stage 3 will have difficulty in many areas including:
Finding the right word during conversations
Organizing and planning
Remembering names of new acquaintances
Stage 4 (Moderate cognitive decline)
In stage four of Alzheimer’s, clear-cut symptoms of the disease are apparent. People with stage four of Alzheimer’s:
Have difficulty with simple arithmetic
Have poor short-term memory (may not recall what they ate for breakfast, for example)
Inability to manage finance and pay bills
May forget details about their life histories
Stage 5 (Moderately severe cognitive decline)
During the fifth stage of Alzheimer’s, people begin to need help with many day-to-day activities. People in stage five of the disease may experience:
Difficulty dressing appropriately
Inability to recall simple details about themselves such as their own phone number
Significant confusion
On the other hand, people in stage five maintain functionality. They typically can still bathe and toilet independently. They also usually still know their family members and some detail about their personal histories, especially their childhood and youth.
Stage 6 (Severe cognitive decline):
People with the sixth stage of Alzheimer’s need constant supervision and frequently require professional care. Symptoms include:
Confusion or unawareness of environment and surroundings
Inability to recognize faces except for the closest friends and relatives
Inability to remember most details of personal history
Loss of bladder and bowel control
Major personality changes and potential behavior problems
The need for assistance with activities of daily living such as toileting and bathing
Wandering
Stage 7 (Very severe cognitive decline):
Stage seven is the final stage of Alzheimer’s. Because the disease is a terminal illness, people in stage seven are nearing death. In stage seven of the disease, people lose the ability to communicate or respond to their environment. While they may still be able to utter words and phrases, they have no insight into their condition and need assistance with all activities of daily living. In the final stages of Alzheimer’s, people may lose their ability to swallow.
Here are some links where more information can be found. I credit these sites for this information.
https://www.alzheimers.net/stages-of-alzheimers-disease/
https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_seven_stages_of_dementia/article.htm