They may experience increased problems navigating their surroundings, even in familiar places. They may lose or misplace items, even items that are valuable. Individuals may find things like balancing the checkbook or planning a family event to be overwhelming. They often have lapses in judgment. It becomes increasingly more difficult to clearly express ideas or to find the right words to describe objects. Individuals may become moody, withdrawn or subdued, particularly in social situations.
They may demonstrate uncharacteristic anger or irritability. Having less motivation to complete tasks is common. Symptoms experienced in stage three become much more pronounced. The individual becomes increasingly more forgetful and confused, requiring assistance with self-care and activities of daily living ADLs. Mood changes are much more obvious. They also frequently experience a decreased emotional response, especially in challenging situations. All the difficulties they begin to face as they move into moderate dementia make it unsafe for them to continue to live on their own.
For their own safety and that of others, they eventually require constant supervision. Counseling can be helpful for them and those that care for them as they progress through stage four. They require assistance with most tasks. Many begin to sleep through most of the day and wander at night, although some individuals seem to require very little sleep.
As the disease progresses, the individual will spend the majority of their time in bed. The rate at which an individual passes through each of these stages varies widely. Due to impaired swallowing which allows food and drink to enter the lungs, an ensuing infection leading to pneumonia is the most common cause of death.
Other causes include other infections, falls, malnutrition and dehydration. Early in the course of the disease, damage to nerve connections in the brain leads to short-term memory loss, but as the disease progresses, other areas of the brain are impacted, making it more difficult to perform everyday functions like speaking, eating, toileting, and ambulating.
As these declines in function occur, it becomes more and challenging to fight infection and disease, and life span shortens as a result. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission.
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Despite this, the person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. Symptoms may not be widely apparent at this stage, but family and close friends may take notice and a doctor would be able to identify symptoms using certain diagnostic tools.
Common difficulties include:. In addition, this is the ideal time to put legal, financial and end-of-life plans in place because the person with dementia will be able to participate in decision-making. Learn More. Middle-stage Alzheimer's is typically the longest stage and can last for many years. As the disease progresses, the person with Alzheimer's will require a greater level of care.
Damage to nerve cells in the brain can also make it difficult for the person to express thoughts and perform routine tasks without assistance. They may experience:. They may also start stuttering and become frustrated with this. Caregiver support: Assistance with personal care, from daily tasks to hygiene, is necessary by this stage. They may also start to sleep more during the day and wander at night. Your doctor will need to repeat questions during the interview.
Body movements will become more rigid and cause severe pain. Some people will become immobile during this stage. The goal of treatment is to manage mental function and behavior and slow the symptoms down.
Dietary changes, supplements, exercises for the body and mind, and medications can have positive impacts on symptoms of the disease. Medications help regulate neurotransmitters for thinking, memory, and communication skills. After a while they may not work. It can make them feel more comfortable and ease the process for their caregivers. Doctors sometimes prescribe antidepressants and antianxiety medications to control mood and behavioral problems.
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