How to Recognize Stages of Dementia : 7 Stages of Dementia

How to Recognize Stages of Dementia : 7 Stages of Dementia


One of the main topics of discussion when someone is diagnosed with dementia is the “stage” of the disease — a marker of how far it has progressed

The word dementia gets used a lot when talking about aging and certain diseases. A common misconception is that dementia is a disease in itself. It is, in fact, a set of symptoms, which can be caused by a number of disorders.

The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Brain damage from an injury or a stroke can also cause dementia, as can other diseases like Lewy body dementia and Huntington’s disease.

Here How to Recognize Stages of Dementia : 7 Stages of Dementia

1.  No impairment
In this stage the person functions normally, has no memory loss, and is mentally healthy. People with NO dementia would be considered to be in Stage 1.

2.  Very mild.
Dementia signs are barely noticeable and simply appear to be the kind of forgetfulness associated with aging — such as misplacing keys but finding them again after some searching.

3.  Mild Cognitive Decline
This stage includes increased forgetfulness, slight difficulty concentrating, decreased work performance. People may get lost more often or have difficulty finding the right words. At this stage, a person's loved ones will begin to notice a cognitive decline. Average duration: 7 years before onset of dementia

4.  Mild.
At this stage, patients are “usually able to do basic activities of daily living,” says Shah — which means they can perform their daily routines, such as getting up, going to the bathroom, getting dressed, and so on, without difficulty. Symptoms of dementia at this stage may include:

• Some forgetfulness and memory loss
•  Repetition 
• Losing items without being able to retrace steps to find them
• Slight trouble managing finances, such as balancing a checkbook
• Confusion while driving

5.   Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline
People in this stage have major memory deficiencies and need some assistance to complete their daily activities (dressing, bathing, preparing meals). Memory loss is more prominent and may include major relevant aspects of current lives; for example, people may not remember their address or phone number and may not know the time or day or where they are. Average duration: 1.5 years

6.   Severe.
Caregivers have to help a lot more with day-to-day activities at this stage. Dementia signs at the severe stage include:

•  Needing help to get dressed
• Requiring help with toileting, such as wiping and flushing
• Wandering and becoming lost if not supervised
• Inability to recall the names of family members or caregivers, but still being able to recognize  familiar faces
• Sleep disturbances

7.   Very Severe Cognitive Decline (Late Dementia)
People in this stage have essentially no ability to speak or communicate. They require assistance with most activities (e.g., using the toilet, eating). They often lose psychomotor skills, for example, the ability to walk. Average duration: 2.5 years