Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia. Dementia is the loss of intellectual abilities – thinking, remembering, reasoning – to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily functioning.

No one knows exactly what causes the Alzheimer's process to begin. What is known, however, are the mental, emotional, and physical changes that occur once the disease takes hold. Depending on when the disease was discovered, the time from diagnosis to death varies from three to 20 years.

Although the course of Alzheimer's disease is not the same in every person, symptoms seem to develop over the same general stages.

Early to Mild Stage Alzheimer's Disease

As the disease begins to affect the cerebral cortex, memory loss and changes in other cognitive abilities become apparent. Some of the symptoms include:

• Memory loss
• Confusion about the location of familiar places
• Taking longer to accomplish normal daily tasks
• Difficulty handling money and paying bills
• Poor judgment resulting in poor decisions
• Loss of spontaneity and sense of initiative
• Mood and personality changes, increased anxiety

Moderate Stage Alzheimer's Disease

At this stage, damage has spread further to the areas of the cerebral cortex that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. More intensive care and supervision become necessary. Some of the symptoms include:

• Increasing memory loss and confusion
• Shortened attention span
• Difficulties recognizing family members and friends
• Difficulty with language; problems with reading, writing, working with numbers
• Difficulty organizing thoughts and thinking logically
• Inability to learn new things or to cope with new or unexpected situations
• Restlessness, agitation, anxiety, tearfulness, wandering
• Repetitive statements or movement, occasional muscle twitches
• Hallucinations, delusions, suspiciousness or paranoia, irritability
• Loss of impulse control such as sloppy eating or vulgar language
• Perceptual motor problems such as trouble setting a table or getting out of a chair

Severe Stage Alzheimer's Disease

In the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, plaques and tangles are widespread throughout the brain and it has atrophied further. Complete care is required. Some of the symptoms include:

• Cannot recognize family or others
• Weight loss
• Seizures, skin infections, difficulty swallowing
• Groaning, moaning, or grunting
• Increased sleeping

Alzheimer's Links

Iowa Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org)
Iowa Health Care Association (www.iowahealthcare.org)