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Health & Fitness

The 7 stages of Alzheimer's

MediNurse talks about the 7 stages of Alzheimer's

Not everyone with Alzheimer’s will progress at the same rate. But, the seven stages of Alzheimer’s, developed by Barry Reisberg, M.D., provide a general idea of how abilities change over the course of the disease.

 

1: No cognitive impairment. At this stage, the individual will show no impaired memory functions and a health care provider will not detect anything.

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2: Very mild cognitive decline. The person may feel they are having memory losses. This may be normal age-related changes or early signs of Alzheimer’s.

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3: Mild cognitive decline. Friends, family or co-workers begin to notice difficulties. During a detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory or concentration.

 

4: Moderate cognitive decline. At this point, a careful medical interview should be able to detect symptoms including forgetfulness of recent events, difficulty performing complex tasks such as paying bills, or becoming moody or withdrawn. 

 

5: Moderately severe cognitive decline. Gaps in memory and thinking are noticeable, and individuals begin to need help with day-to-day activities.

 

6: Severe cognitive decline. Memory continues to worsen, personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive help with daily activities.

 

7: Very severe cognitive decline. In the final stage of this disease, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement.

 

If you or someone you know may be experiencing these stages, contact your doctor immediately. Early detection is critical and MediNurse can help provide care. Contact us at www.medinurse.com or call 314-281-7800.

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