Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

Although the course of the disease is unpredictable, it has been observed that the symptoms tend to fall into three stages that often overlap.

Stage Duration Common Symptoms

1 2-4 years • short-term memory loss

• difficulty in concentrating

• poor judgement

• hesitancy about doing things that once came easily

• sometimes problems with finding the right expression

or word

• often withdrawn

• some perceptible changes may occur in personality

• anxiety about not being able to remember as well

• anxiety about what is happening to him

• difficulty coming to decisions

2 2-10 years • repeating statements

• real difficulty remembering friends’ and family

members’ names

• restlessness, especially at night and late afternoon

(called ‘sundowning’)

• fear of getting into the bathtub

• real difficulty dressing

• perceptual-motor problems

• increased difficulty organizing thoughts

• problems with reading, working with numbers and writing

• more and more difficulty locating the right word

• suspiciousness, sometimes irritability

• hearing or seeing things that aren’t there in fact

3 Terminal • doesn’t recognize himself

• unable to take care of himself

• difficulty swallowing

• sleeps longer and more fitfully

• bizarre or disturbing behaviors such as constant crying,
hitting, biting, screaming, grunting noises

• loss of control over bladder and or bowels

• abusive, angry, aggressive, demanding behaviors

• bizarre sexual behaviors