As a progressive condition, many people who are diagnosed with dementia often have it for years, if not decades, before it is diagnosed. Treatment can begin to slow its effects as much as possible, and a specialist residential care home can start providing treatment once doctors are aware it is there.
The progression of dementia is often slow, and many of its symptoms can overlap with stress, illness and medication taken for other reasons. However, doctors have isolated seven stages of dementia, usually grouped into two categories:
- Pre-Dementia Stages (Stage 1-3)
- Dementia Stages (Stages 4-7)
Here are the seven stages of dementia, what to look for and how they are diagnosed.
Stage 1 – No Impairment
Dementia causes the structure of the brain to slowly degrade, causing neurons to stop connecting to each other.
This deterioration can happen so slowly that initially, there are no effects at all.
Stage 2 – Very Minor Impairment
Most people have moments of forgetfulness, or where it takes a moment to recall a memory or the location of a familiar object, but if they start to become more common without another factor to account for them, it could be a sign of dementia.
Stage 3 – Minor Impairment
This is the first stage where people notice there might be an issue, when dementia moves from forgetfulness and becomes a noticeable issue.
It can lead to anxiety and is worth getting checked; the earlier dementia is managed, the slower it will progress.
Stage 4 – Moderate Impairment
This is where people will start to forget major parts of their history, will struggle with organisation or become less aware of events and the world around them.
It is also when people will start to withdraw to hide the effects from others, which can lead to more rapid progression.
Stage 5 – Moderate-Severe Impairment
By this stage, a person may struggle to take care of themselves without help, struggling with memorising details, making decisions, confusion regarding place and time, and may struggle with basic mathematics.
Stage 6 – Severe Impairment
Many of the symptoms associated with dementia, such as wandering, difficulties retaining important details in their life, personality changes and personal care difficulties, are found in stage 6.
Stage 7 – Very Severe Impairment
Also known as late-stage dementia, this is where the condition has progressed to the point that a person is unable to take care of themselves, speak or control their body.