Understanding and Recognizing Dementia Stages
If you have aging parents, you may notice some signs of age-associated memory impairment and other symptoms related to getting older. For instance, your parents might forget things more often or have trouble caring for themselves in certain ways. Knowing the stages of dementia is essential if you have older adults in your family. But when are these signs of normal aging, and when should you consider memory care?
Dementia is the word used to encompass diseases and injuries that impact cognitive functioning and how well a person can carry out activities of daily living. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for the highest number of dementia cases, yet the signs and symptoms can show themselves from other causes instead, including Lewy body dementia (LBD) or injury.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are usually associated with older adults, although early onset Alzheimer’s disease can happen at younger ages, as can dementia from some other diseases and injuries.
Dementia is broken down into stages because it is progressive, starting with mild dementia symptoms during early-stage dementia and worsening over time, eventually leading to severe dementia symptoms during the late stage.
In this article, we’ll help you see the difference between the stages of dementia as it progresses. This information can help you decide whether to get your parents checked by a medical professional for dementia. Getting a diagnosis can help you provide the right kind of care and planning for each stage.
Dementia Stages
Dementia is categorized into three main stages that show how the disease progresses from early to advanced. You may hear of differing stages, some of which are more technical than others, but in general, healthcare professionals discuss dementia in terms of three stages: early, middle, and late. Here is more information on each stage, with dementia symptoms corresponding to each.
Stage 1: Early
Likely, your loved one would not receive a diagnosis yet at this level. You and your parents likely wouldn’t know about the start of the disease yet because symptoms are not present or noticeable. Nonetheless, there can be some signs of a change. The average period for this early stage of dementia is two years.
The symptoms of this mild stage of dementia can resemble those of normal aging. For example, your loved one could become forgetful and show signs of mild memory loss. They might also get lost, need help figuring out problems and tasks, and have difficulty thinking what to say.
You might also notice changes to their personality and mental state, such as acting withdrawn or showing signs of anxiety or irritation.
Many people in this initial stage of dementia can still be independent and carry out activities of daily living. Nonetheless, dementia may start to impact them a bit. It can be helpful to support your parent or loved one in the areas where they are struggling while still giving them autonomy to take care of the other areas of their life independently.
Stage 2: Middle
As in the first stage of dementia, you may not yet guess that your loved one has dementia when they are in the middle stage. Nonetheless, this is probably the time when you notice more marked dementia symptoms and wonder if something more than normal aging is taking place. The average time frame of this middle stage of dementia is two to four years.
Some of the signs and symptoms you notice in the early stage of dementia will become worse during this stage. For example, it’s likely for their memory to worsen and for the person to have a harder time keeping new memories. It might become more challenging to think of the right words and to orient to the current place and time. Concerns with mental state can also continue and worsen.
You may also notice new signs during this stage. In particular, the person may have trouble understanding what is real and what is not. They may hallucinate and genuinely believe they are experiencing something that is not there. They may also have delusions, which is a symptom that often results in not trusting other people.
The middle stage is also the time when behavior changes generally begin. For example, your loved one could scream more, become agitated, repeat the same behaviors over and over, or act inappropriately in public.
While independence is possible during this stage, your loved one may need additional support compared to the early stage. They may need help remembering and managing activities of daily living, although it is still beneficial to provide independence in some areas of life as much as possible.
Stage 3: Late
This third stage of dementia involves the advanced progression of dementia symptoms. This last stage tends to be shorter than the others because it involves a decline in health and a reduced life expectancy. Nonetheless, it can still last for a year or two.
Memory problems worsen during this stage, and your loved one has more difficulty staying in the here and now. They may have trouble recognizing people and things they used to find familiar and may not even recognize their own reflection.
Your loved one may not realize the time period they are living in and instead think they are living in a previous part of their life. They may continue to hallucinate, delusions, depression, apathy, and other mood and emotional impacts. They may have more trouble with understanding and communicating verbally and connect more to other forms of expression, such as non-verbal communication.
The behavior changes of the previous stage are still common in the later stage. In this stage, the person is more likely to show restlessness and aggression. It is helpful to not take responses like these personally and to try to figure out if the person is experiencing an emotion or need that they are having difficulty expressing. This can help you provide the best care and support.
One of the main differences of this stage is a physical decline that leaves the person needing an extra layer of support from others. Daily activities become more difficult, as people in this stage often have less mobility, struggle more with eating and swallowing, have less control over their continence, and are more likely to fall.
During this late stage of dementia, life becomes more difficult for you and your loved one. They will struggle more with everyday living, and you will need additional professional support. As the disease progresses, you may need continuous support, whether through an at-home caregiver or a community.
Different Ways to Classify Stages of Dementia
Assessments of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease sometimes include more than the three broad stages. For instance, these five stages of Alzheimer’s disease may sometimes refer to stages of dementia, especially when dementia is associated with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, as in most cases.
Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease
Mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease
Moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease
Severe dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease
Are Dementia Stages the Same for Everyone?
Not everyone will experience the same dementia symptoms or progression. The three broad stages provide a general guideline for understanding and some signs and symptoms to look for. Each person will follow an individual path.
As mentioned, dementia can result from different diseases or injuries to the brain, so the cause can impact the symptoms and the way it progresses. Other factors impact dementia progress as well. Truthfully, not everyone will survive all of the stages because it is a progressive condition that reduces life expectancy.
When Does a Dementia Diagnosis Happen?
You might wonder whether a healthcare professional will diagnose dementia within a particular stage, but a dementia diagnosis can happen during any of the stages. As you might imagine, people with mild dementia may not always receive a diagnosis yet, as the symptoms could be mistaken for typical signs of aging.
Plus, you and your loved one might take a wait-and-see approach at first. Nonetheless, an early diagnosis can help know what is happening, provide the proper care, and create a plan for moving forward.
Suppose you do not receive an early diagnosis and the signs are missed during the stage of mild cognitive impairment or preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. In that case, they might show themselves more during the moderate dementia stage. This is when you will often see a progression and problems noticeably going beyond normal signs of aging.
Your loved one may even receive a diagnosis during the moderate dementia stage if you decide they need extra care and decide to get them assessed for that.
For anyone who has not yet been diagnosed by the time they show severe dementia signs, the dementia progress should be showing itself enough by this point to warrant a diagnosis. Of course, this requires visiting a qualified health professional to have your loved one assessed.
Receiving a diagnosis can help you get the care you need to support your parents. The assessment can help determine which of the stages of dementia your loved one falls into, which guides the level of care and support they need.
How CarePatrol Can Support You Through the Stages of Dementia
As dementia progresses through the various stages, from mild cognitive impairment to severe dementia, people with this condition generally need more support during day-to-day life. As a loved one, you may be unable to manage the care they need, especially during the middle and late stages. This is where CarePatrol can help.
Memory care is a specialized kind of treatment that addresses the symptoms and needs of people with dementia, and it is especially helpful during the late stage when your loved one may need continuous care and is no longer able to live on their own.
Once your family is ready for memory care, the next step is to find the right solution. CarePatrol helps aging adults and families like yours find safe and quality memory care options at no cost. Our local senior advisors guide you and provide options based on your loved one’s unique needs and preferences. We aim to empower you with the information you need to make informed decisions. It’s never too early to start the conversation. Contact us when you’re ready to learn more about the information and resources available.