Alzheimer’s Disease History and Stages
The term “Alzheimer’s disease” was coined when, in 1906, the German Dr. Alois Alzheimer presented a 51-year old woman who suffered from a rare brain disorder causing memory loss, spastic behavior and inability to perform every day tasks. Upon her death, Dr. Alzheimer performed an autopsy and discovered dense deposits on and around nerve cells. Alzheimer called them neurotic plaques and these plaques, along with the presence of twisted nerve fibers inside the cells, (neurofibrillary tangles) are the only definitive signs of Alzheimer’s. While mental and physical diagnoses are still very accurate, only after an autopsy can the degenerative disorder be officially declared Alzheimer’s. However, after the stages of Alzheimer’s begin to present, every precaution should be taken to ensure a proper diagnosis and understanding of the disease.
Stages of Alzheimer’s
Years of research have shown that the development of Alzheimer’s unfolds in common patterns of symptom progression that evolve through stages. Alzheimer patterns are dependent on how rapidly cell degeneration occurs. Cells involving learning and memory are usually attacked first, then cells that control thinking, behavior and judgment, and, finally, Alzheimer’s will destroy cells that control and coordination and movement.
The following system of Alzheimer stages , developed by Barry Reisberg, M.D., Clinical director of the New York University School of Medicine’s Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center, provide family and patients with useful frames for understanding how Alzheimer’s will progress. Yet, it is important to note that Alzheimer’s is still unpredictable and these stages can vary in speed and symptoms. While the average lifespan for a patient with Alzheimer’s is 8 years, some may survive as long as 20 years with the disease and others as little as 3.
- Stage 1: No impairment
Unimpaired individuals experience no memory problems or signs of Alzheimer’s disease. - Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline
(may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease)
Individuals may feel as if they have memory lapses, especially in forgetting familiar words or names or the location of everyday objects. But these problems are not evident during a medical examination or apparent to friends or family. - Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline
Early-stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms friends, family or co-workers begin to notice deficiencies. Problems with memory or concentration may be measurable in clinical testing or discernible during a detailed medical interview. - Stage 4: Moderate cognitive decline
(Mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease)
At this stage, a careful medical interview detects clear-cut deficiencies in memory, capacity to perform complex tasks and social behavior. - Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline
(Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)
Major gaps in memory and deficits in cognitive function emerge. Some assistance with day-to-day activities becomes essential. - Stage 6: Severe cognitive decline
(Moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)
Memory difficulties continue to worsen, significant personality changes may emerge and affected individuals need extensive help with customary daily activities. - Stage 7: Very severe cognitive decline
(Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease)
The final stage of the disease when individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, the ability to speak and, ultimately, the ability to control movement.