How does Alzheimer Disease Progress?

The progression of Alzheimer disease varies enormously between affected individuals. In some cases it can progress slowly over decades and the disease can last as long as 27 years. In other patients, Alzheimer disease can progress rapidly over a few years. The average length of Alzheimer disease is 7 years. Sometimes there may be no changes or deterioration over a period of years (plateaus) and in other cases, there may be frequent losses of functions over weeks or months. Caregivers need to be prepared ahead of time for the series of losses that occur with this disease. In the early stages of Alzheimer disease, individuals may be able to function quite well and even live independently at home. Later, they may do well in an assisted living facility, requiring minimal care to help them with their problems with memory and orientation. The level of care may increase to the point that they need 24 hour care for eating, toileting, dressing and bathing in a skilled nursing facility.

In most patients, the first symptom is a loss of short term memory. It is often difficult to judge just when the disease started. It is much easier in retrospect for a caregiver to remember the time when memory problems first started. This is followed by loss of judgement, personality changes, depression, emotional disorders and problems with speech. This can progress to incontinence, sleep disorders and needs for increasing care. In the last stages of Alzheimer disease, the patient is bedridden, mute and rigid. Death is usually from complicating medical conditions such as pneumonia.

It is important to emphasis here that caregivers need support in taking care of Alzheimer victims. The caregiver burden is a 7 day, 24 hour a day unrelenting job. To learn more about support available to caregivers, click on the following link: