Alzheimer\u2019s disease is a form of dementia that impacts a person\u2019s memory, thinking and behavior. Over time, symptoms of the disease grow severe enough to interfere with daily life. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer\u2019s today. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to almost 14 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As people progress through the stages of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, they become less capable of taking care of themselves. As a result, loved ones or paid caretakers have to take on the responsibility. In the United States, more than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer\u2019s or other types of dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How quickly Alzheimer\u2019s disease progresses varies for each person, but it can range from 4 to 20 years. On average, most individuals live for 4-8 years after their diagnosis. Alzheimer\u2019s disease is challenging both for the individual and their loved ones. Having an understanding of what\u2019s to come can help everyone prepare themselves as much as possible. There are seven recognized stages of Alzheimer\u2019s disease that clearly illustrate how a person progresses through the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When someone is in stage one, they have normal outward behavior and no symptoms that you can spot. No memory problems are happening. At this stage, the only thing that triggers an Alzheimer\u2019s disease diagnosis is a PET scan \u2014 an imaging test that shows how the brain is working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In stage two, the individual starts to experience some very mild forgetfulness that\u2019s common with the person\u2019s age demographic. Incidents of memory loss or confusion are common in almost half the population of adults aged 65 and older. Loved ones may start to notice these small changes, but it\u2019s often such a mild decline that a doctor won\u2019t identify it as Alzheimer\u2019s symptoms. The symptoms at this stage are dismissed as the normal cognitive decline that comes with aging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this stage, the person may start to notice that they:<\/p>\n\n\n