The Seven Stages of Alzheimer’s

The Seven Stages of Alzheimer’s

Click on a stage to learn more

STAGE 3

STAGE 1

STAGE 5

STAGE 7

Mild Decline

no impairment

Very Severe Decline

Moderately Severe DECLINE

STAGE 6

STAGE 4

STAGE 2

Severe Decline

Moderate Decline

Very Mild Decline

Understand your risk

Support your wellbeing

01

No impairment

Exercise 30-40 minutes 5 times per week

Understand the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and normal aging

1. You have no symptoms 2. The only way to be sure you have Alzheimer's at this stage is via an MRI

Build brain health into your diet

More Evidence Mediterranean Diet Fights Cognitive Impairment

Exercise as a Treatment for Alzheimer’s? Staying Active Removes Build-up in the Brain

How Can You Tell the Difference Between Dementia and ‘Normal’ Aging?

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01

No impairment

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Support your wellbeing

02

Understand your risk

Very Mild Decline

Challenge your brain with different types of learning, e.g., learn a new instrument or a different language

1. May notice memory problems 2. May lose items around the house 3. Still performs well on memory tests

Stick to a regular exercise program

Take a baseline cognitive test

Talk to a medical professional to find out if you would benefit from enrolling in clinical trials

Eat a science-backed, brain-healthy diet, like the Mediterranean or MIND diets

Devise ways to help you remember things, e.g, calendar alarms, Post-it reminders

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What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment? A Guide to Symptoms and Diagnosis

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02

Very Mild Decline

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03

Mild Decline

Support your wellbeing

Make a plan

• Consider documenting what’s important to you with an audio recording, video or letter

• Talk about longer-term health care planning, financial priorities and legacy with your family
• Thank your caregiver for the journey they are about to take with you
• Appoint Power of Attorney and make end-of-life arrangements with your family

memory ISSUES

Stay socially active and engaged

• Friends and family notice memory is getting worse

• Forgetting the names of new acquaintances
• Losing items, including valuables

Come up with a plan about sharing diagnosis with family and friends

BRAIN FOG

Establish plan with family members or friends to organize routines

• Loss of words during conversation

• Difficulty planning and organizing

Cognitive Tests

Read about the latest research and consider clinical trial participation

• Performance lower than baseline normal

Explore caregiver resources

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04

Moderate Decline

Choose an option to learn more what you can do in this stage

INCREASING MEMORY ISSUES

• Forgetting details of life history

• Declining short-term memory

I am a:

OTHER ISSUES

patient

caregiver

• Difficulty with simple arithmetic
• New trouble with managing finances

Resource: Finding the Right Doctor: A Patient Advocate’s Step-By-Step Strategy

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If you are a patient:

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Support your wellbeing

Keep up with exercise, diet, and social engagement; continue with your plan to protect and promote brain health

Support your loved one

Tell your caregiver how gratefulyou are they are taking care ofyou and are staying with you onthis journey

Plan for the future

Speak to family about what is important to you in navigating the later stages of Alzheimer's disease

If you are a caregiver:

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Support your wellbeing

• Learn to be present with your loved one as they exist now
• Find an Alzheimer's or dementia support group in your area
• Be attentive to your own needs; don't neglect your own phsyical and mental health and avoid burnout
• Share the work of caregiving where you can; assemble a dementia care team

Support your loved one

• Establish routines
• If your loved one is driving, get a professional to assess driving capability
• Keep your loved one active and engaged with other people
• Learn new ways of communicating
• Experiment with science-backed mindfulness practices to help you stay patient and positive

Plan for the future

• Learn about later-stage behavioral changes and ways to cope
• Speak to medical professional about a plan for long-term health care options
• Speak to loved on about end-of-life issues and preferences (DNR, funeral preferences)
• Figure out what financial health care assistance you qualify for

What You Can Do as a Caregiver

05

Moderately Severe

Support your loved one

• Consider investing in a GPS tracking device and home camera system
• Make home modifications for safety and comfort

• Come up with a plan for administering medication

prohibitive memory loss

• Inability to recall simple details like your phone number

Support your wellbeing

• Learn strategies for coping with difficult behaviors and symptoms, e.g., angry or violent outbursts, hallucinations

• Find ways to cope with stress; it’s important to find time for yourself

DISORIENTATION, MOTOR SKILLS

• Needs help with day-to-day activities like dressing

• Significant confusion

Plan for late-stage care

• Explore options for long-term care in the future, such as nursing homes or memory care facilities.

Read more: Navigating the Hallucinations and Delusions of Dementia: A BrainTalk with Dr. Erin Foff and Chris Schwilk

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What You Can Do as a Caregiver

06

Severe Decline

Support your loved one

• Consider music therapy; it can work well with some late-stage Alzheimer’s patients

• Get necessary equipment for bathing (i.e. lifting harness, safety bars and mats)

COGNITIVE ISSUES

• Inability to recognize faces except close friends and relatives
• Major personality changes

Support your wellbeing

• Learn strategies for coping with difficult behaviors and symptoms, e.g., angry or violent outbursts, hallucinations

• Lean on any support you can – both moral and physical support are important at this stage

NEED for constant care

• Need for daily living assistance, including eating, toilet and bathing

• Wandering

Plan for the future

• Make end-of-life arrangements

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RESOURCE: 4 End of Life Care Conversations All Caregivers Need to Have

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06

Severe Decline

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07

What You Can Do as a Caregiver

Very Severe Decline

Support your loved one

• Speak to doctor about medication options to make patient more comfortable

• Communicate with doctors at what point medical intervention should not be considered

COMPREHENSIVE DECLINE

• Can sometimes utter words or phrases

• No self-awarness of their condition

• Need assistance with all aspects of daily life

• May lose ability to swallow

Support your wellbeing

• Understand the ways the disease ends and try to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally

Plan for the future

• Look into palliative care options
• Prepare for end-of-life arrangements

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RESOURCE: 7 Ways to Ease Eating and Swallowing Difficulties

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