Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that is usually associated with old age. In this condition, the cells of the brain begin to die systematically, therefore making it extremely difficult for the signals to be passed on correctly. Till date, scientists have been unable to determine the exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease.


The symptoms of Alzheimer’s are seen in both men and women, but women and Alzheimer’s disease has a closer association because the symptoms of menopause often mirror those of Alzheimer’s.

The signs of Alzheimer’s disease are often hard to recognize at first. There are some commonplace symptoms such as forgetting small things, irritability, and mood swings, which often do not stand out in the daily routine.


It is only when the condition progresses and becomes severe that you would begin to see that something is wrong. Since Alzheimer’s disease in women usually occurs when they are older, the symptoms may often appear to be the normal signs of ageing. When the disease progresses, the symptoms can take an ugly turn and become incapacitating and frightening. In its later stages, the disease requires intensive care and round the clock attention.

There are seven distinct Alzheimer’s disease stages.

• Stage 1 (Normal functioning):The first stage of this condition is usually very mild, and since this is simply the onset of Alzheimer’s, the brain cells are still healthy. There are almost no symptoms of this condition during the first stage.

• Stage 2 (gentle cognitive decline): There may be slight loss of memory in this stage, and you begin to experience mild symptoms such as forgetting familiar things. Alzheimer’s disease dementia also begins to set in during this stage, even though it is still very mild.

• Stage 3 (Cognitive decline):While the symptoms of cognitive decline in both stages 2 and 3 are similar, the symptoms in stage 3 are more severe. The patient may begin to have problems using words and names, inability remembering names of especially those people recently introduced to them, lack of ability to carry out routine tasks in both social and professional scenarios, increased forgetfulness, misplaced objects that may be of high value, and increased trouble in organizing and planning.

• Stage 4 (Moderate or Fair cognitive decline):There is a sharper decline of mental faculties in stage 4. The patient may be increasingly forgetful of recent events; fall short of the aptitude to carry out challenging mathematical calculations mentally, increased difficulty in performing day-to-day tasks of slightly high complexity, forgetting to pay bills, and inability to manage finances. When the disease is in the transition to the next stage, the patient may begin to forget their own personal history. The patient may also become withdrawn and moody.

• Stage 5 (Moderate and severe cognitive decline):This refers to the time when the cognitive decline becomes severe. The patient may forget his/her address or other personal and intimate information, forgetting even vital information like the college or school they graduated from. The patient may become confused, forgetting the actual day as well as where they are located. Less challenging mathematical calculations may become difficult, and they may not even be able to count backwards. The patient may not be able to choose their own clothing, and may begin to forget some details about themselves and those closest to them.

• Stage 6 (harsh cognitive decline):The patient may lose awareness of his/her surroundings and forget even the most recent experiences, have trouble controlling their bowel movements and bladder, need help to get dressed or go to the toilet, experience change in sleep patterns, experience behavioral changes, and develop a tendency to wander and become lost.

• Stage 7 (Very severe cognitive decline): This refers to the last stage of the condition where the patient experiences a complete breakdown and is unable to act in response to any particular environment in an appropriate manner.