Can you explain the stages of dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, behavior and social abilities severely enough to affect activities of daily living.
Simply, dementia is brain failure. The symptoms of dementia seem to worsen over time, but the rate of progression varies with each individual.
According to the World Health Organization, the number of people living with dementia worldwide is estimated at 47 million and is projected to increase to 75 million by 2030. The number of cases of dementia are estimated to almost triple by 2050.
Typically, dementia begins with some mild cognitive decline. This decline is not illustrated by simple age-related forgetfulness; rather, the affected individual has moments of memory loss with increased frequency, such as identifying names of familiar objects or forgetting recent conversations. In the early stages of dementia, the individual might experience difficulty in performing certain tasks, such as following a recipe or being able to pay bills. Most often, the individual realizes that he/she is experiencing cognitive decline, however, the individual chooses to hide the symptoms. Depending on the type of dementia, some individuals may have language and communication difficulties, while others experience more loss of memory or movement.
In the mild or moderate stage of dementia, the individual will have great difficulty in hiding the symptoms. As dementia progresses, the individual will need assistance with self-care and everyday activities. Additionally, changes in personality become more apparent and the individual most likely cannot remember his/her address or phone number or other pertinent personal information. Also, sleep patterns change considerably.
An individual in the late or severe stage of dementia will not recognize family members or familiar caregivers. The progression of this neurodegenerative disorder significantly impairs the individual's memory and the individual is unable to communicate, walk or control bowel and bladder function. Further, in this late stage, muscle rigidity and abnormal reflexes occur. The affected individual needs full-time personal care during this time, and caregivers should be aware that the individual is more prone to infections, including pneumonia, and because of immobility, the risk of bedsores is very high. Late-stage dementia can be very challenging for not only the affected individuals, but also for their caregivers as more round-the-clock care is necessary.
Professional and/or private home caregiver services and hospice are good resources available for support during late and end stage dementia.
No "staging system" is perfect, and the stages often overlap. While it is helpful in knowing the stages of dementia, it is important to note that dementia is unique to each individual. Caregivers should make the necessary lifestyle adaptations while remaining flexible about meeting their loved one's needs as they develop through the progression of the disease.