Common Questions About Alzheimer’s Disease

In it’s early stages, Alzheimer’s Disease can be difficult to diagnose, and if you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms, you are undoubtedly searching for answers to some of the most common Alzheimer’s-related questions. This article is intended to provide general information to seniors and their caregivers, but is not intended to take the place of a physician’s advice or diagnosis.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease are often confused with the normal aging process, and can include: difficulty in performing familiar tasks, problems with language and speech, behavioral, mood, and personality changes, and other related symptoms. While all seniors occasionally exhibit some of these characteristics, those with Alzheimer’s experience them in rapid, continuous patterns. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, early detection is key to making the most of available treatment options.

There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, but the rate at which a person progresses through them can vary widely. Most people die four to six years after diagnosis, but the range is anywhere from three to twenty years. As the disease progresses, increasing dependence on family members or other caregivers, decreased cognizance, and marked personality changes are common, as are feelings of paranoia, suspicion, and in some cases, visual or auditory hallucinations.

In the earliest stages, there is usually mild to moderate cognitive decline, which becomes increasingly obvious in the fourth and fifth stages. The sixth and seventh stages are characterized by total lack of independence, hallucinations, and very commonly, paranoia.

Early detection is the key to making sound treatment and care decisions when it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease. Speak with a doctor as soon as you are able, and be sure to take an active role in the decisions relating to the care and treatment of yourself or the person under your care.