Understanding the progression of Alzheimer's disease might help one understand the potential changes that might occur in a person after a diagnosis. The stages are simply a general guide, and over time, experts have suggested a wide variety of "staging" schemes.

There are five stages that some people believe the disease has, whereas others only mention the early, middle, and late stages. From one person to the next, different symptoms will manifest at different times.

A group of symptoms known as dementia include those that impact language, thinking, memory, and problem-solving. These symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily life in a person with dementia.


Alzheimer's disease has FIVE stages:

Stage 1: Preclinical Alzheimer's disease
A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease may not arise for several years. Although there won't be any obvious symptoms at this point, imaging tools can detect deposits of an amyloid-beta protein.

Researchers are exploring appropriate applications for genetic testing in order to predict who might acquire Alzheimer's.

Stage 2: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
A person with MCI could observe modest changes in their memory and reasoning. They might have "brain fog" and have trouble remembering recent events. Although these problems are not serious enough to interfere with daily living or routine tasks, loved ones may start noticing changes.

MCI symptoms include:
- Losing track of recent events or significant talks more frequently than usual - Having trouble making decisions or doing multi-step jobs
- Being uncertain about the date, the individuals, and the location
- Ignoring self-care responsibilities like eating and washing one's hands - Sensing "brain fog"

MCI does not yet have a drug treatment, but certain lifestyle adjustments can assist manage it.

Stage 3: Mild Dementia
the stage at which Alzheimer's disease is commonly diagnosed by doctors. This will be the first stage if Alzheimer's is described as having three stages.

Memory and thinking issues may start to influence daily living and become increasingly obvious to friends and family. Alzheimer's disease-related mild dementia symptoms include:

- Finding it difficult to convey a concept or an object using the right words
- Asking the same question repeatedly
- Having trouble remembering freshly taught knowledge - Getting lost or losing things

Stage 4: Moderate Dementia
A person with Alzheimer's disease develops mild dementia, which causes them to grow more forgetful and confused over time. They could require assistance with daily activities and self-care. This period is the longest and often lasts 2-4 years.

Moderate dementia symptoms include:
- Forgetting where you are and how to get there, even in familiar settings.
- Forgetting the day of the week or the time of year
- Confusing relatives and close friends or mistaking strangers for relatives
- Forgetting specifics about themselves, including their address;

A person with Alzheimer's may start to feel restless more in the evening and have trouble falling asleep as the disease develops. Sundowner's syndrome is another name for this condition.

Stage 5: Severe Dementia
Physical and mental abilities continue to deteriorate at this time. In the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, someone with severe dementia might:

- Need assistance with personal care, eating, dressing, and using the restroom.
- Difficulty talking and using language coherently.
- Not be able to recognize familiar faces. This may be because they remember the person's appearance when they were younger.
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Possible hostility against caregivers brought on by fear or confusion

A person with advanced Alzheimer's disease has a greater risk of developing pneumonia and passing away. As a result of their diminished ability to swallow, patients with Alzheimer's disease frequently die from pneumonia, which can spread infection to the lungs.

Dehydration, malnutrition, and other infections are additional significant causes of death in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Even though their conduct changes, a person with Alzheimer's is still that person; this must be kept in mind. As they struggle to remember things they feel they should know or find it difficult to do the actions they used to, people with Alzheimer's disease frequently become frustrated.

Not everyone will have all of the symptoms mentioned above, and symptoms can change over time. The stages may also cross over. An infection or another health issue could be the cause of a rapid change in a person with Alzheimer's disease's abilities or behavior. It is essential to consult a doctor as soon as you can.

Family members and other close friends will be better able to offer assistance and support if they are more knowledgeable about Alzheimer's disease and how it affects a person. Alzheimer's disease cannot currently be prevented or cured, although research is ongoing to find techniques to identify it sooner and slow down or stop its spread.


Reference:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315123#takeaway