The Stages of Alzheimer’s and the Caregiver’s Role
When a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s only natural to worry about what comes next. While Alzheimer’s will progress differently for each person, scientists and clinicians have attempted to stage the disease as a way that helps people living with it and their families understand what is happening, as well as to plan for the future. The Alzheimer’s Association classifies the progression of this degenerative brain condition into three stages: early, middle, and late. Here’s a closer look at what those mean—and how caregivers can help.
Early Stage Alzheimer’s:
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, which is marked by a gradual loss of memory and other mental skills. Indeed, memory loss (due to changes in the brain brought on by the deposit of certain proteins) is the earliest symptom of the disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) notes that common manifestations of early-stage, or mild, Alzheimer’s disease might include: forgetting recent information, losing track of dates, misplacing items, and taking longer to complete daily tasks…
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Leslie Kernisan, MD, MPH, is offering two free caregiver training webinars to people who notice that their aging parents need some help now or will in the future. Sign up now to receive the free newsletter from Better Health While Aging and, if you choose, view two great caregiving webinars that can help you help your older parents (and yourself). Or you can go directly to the trainings page.
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