Stages of Dementia in Elderly

The literal meaning of the word dementia is 'deprived of mind'. Medically, the term 'dementia' is used to refer to a severe loss of cognitive ability. It is basically a progressive and degenerative disorder of the brain. It is a non-specific syndrome that can severely affect memory, mental abilities or cognitive functions, reasoning and language, which can eventually progress to a state where the affected individuals lose the ability to perform day-to-day activities and even care for themselves.

The most common victims of dementia are the elderly, especially those older than 65 years. There are several types of dementia. The early symptoms of the condition such as, forgetfulness or loss of memory can also be a normal part of aging and so, may go unnoticed. However, the symptoms gradually worsen and become severe. The progression of the disease is classified into three main stages. The different phases of dementia is based on the general pattern that the disease has been observed to follow, though all the symptoms may not be experienced by all individuals.

Stages of Dementia

Dementia is basically classified into three stages, known as early stage, moderate stage and severe or advanced stage. The progression of the disease may take several months to years. In the early stage, the symptoms of dementia in elderly are quite difficult to recognize, as these symptoms can be associated with many other conditions. The symptoms of dementia in seniors become more distinct and apparent in the moderate stage. When the disease progresses to the advanced stage, the symptoms become too severe and the affected person fail to perform even the basic tasks.

Early Stage
This stage is more commonly mistaken for the normal aging process, as the symptoms associated with this stage are not very specific. The most common symptoms that one can observe in this stage are, absentmindedness, forgetfulness, apathy and lose of interest or desire to take initiative on tasks and various activities, confusion and memory loss, disorientation, change in personality, sudden mood swings, irritability and diminished judgment.

Moderate Stage
Dementia can be easily identified in the moderate stage, as the symptoms become more apparent and identifiable. This stage is characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities of the affected individuals. The most important symptoms of this stage are, confusion regarding time and places, inability to recall even the recent events, difficulty in recognizing the family members and close friends, difficulty in doing simple activities like, eating, bathing or grooming oneself, increased irritability, anxiety, agitation and frustration. In this stage, one can also experience visual and auditory hallucinations.

Advanced Stage
This is the stage, where the severe dementia symptoms manifest. In this stage, the patients have to be taken care of all the time. Patients in this stage usually lose language and communication skills, and the ability to respond to people and the environment. This stage is characterized by significant loss of memory, loss of recognition of family members or friends and even the objects that are used everyday, incontinence, uncontrollable movements, restlessness, insomnia, difficulty in walking and failure to eat, wash, dress and use the toilette without someone's help. So, the patients in the advanced stage need constant care and supervision. This is reason why, they are often placed in a nursing home or in a living complex that provides dementia-related services.

The progression of the diseases can vary among different individuals. Dementia can be associated with several diseases or conditions, which include, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases, vascular dementia, Huntington's disease, 'Dementia with Lewy Bodies' and Frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The symptoms of dementia can be reversible or irreversible. Only a few cases can be reversed with early treatment. In majority of the cases, treatment is aimed towards managing the symptoms, slowing down the progression of the disease or improving the quality of life. Such treatment approaches include, keeping the elderly busy in activities in order to keep their mind sharp and active, along with giving them a balanced and nutritious diet.