|
|
|
Dementia
Course
The course of dementia is very difficult to trace, but for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, there are three stages to the progression of the disease.
- Early stage
At this stage the dementia can often be overlooked and incorrectly diagnosed as 'old age'. The person may experience memory problems, show difficulty with language, show signs of depression or irritability, and appear to have less energy and initiative than normal
- Moderate stage
In this stage of the illness, the person affected by AD continues to function, but the problems become more pronounced and the person may need supervision to complete certain activities of daily living. The person may show an inability to perform daily activities such as dressing and cleaning themselves; they may also have periods of forgetfulness, difficulty speaking and behavioural abnormalities.
- Advanced stage
Disability becomes obvious at this stage of the disease and the person is totally dependent on a carer and is mostly inactive. Memory problems are now very serious and the person becomes increasingly physically disabled in this stage. The person may now show difficulty with eating and walking, an inability to recognise family and friends, bladder and bowel incontinence and a loss of orientation.
|
|
|
