Alzheimer’s disease has increasingly been recognized as a continuum rather than a discrete entity. Recognizing Alzheimer’s disease as a multifaceted process that moves along a seamless continuum will not only pave the way to effective disease-modifying therapies but will also enable a more precise, personalized approach to patient care—particularly in the advanced stages when care needs are changing more rapidly.
In this article, we provide an overview of the stages in the Alzheimer's disease continuum, with a focus on the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease and associated care considerations.
The Alzheimer's disease continuum consists of five stages:
Throughout this continuum, the presence and manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease vary depending on the stage of the disease. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease will likely experience a combination of cognitive, functional, and behavioral changes throughout the disease course, though the presence and severity of such changes vary throughout the continuum.
Additionally, the rates at which these changes occur, as seen above, vary throughout the disease course. In the early stages, cognitive changes typically arise gradually, whereas, in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the rate of cognitive decline may be greater.
Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease and MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease are the first two stages in the Alzheimer’s disease continuum and are generally regarded as the early stages.
Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease is a newly defined stage of Alzheimer’s disease. It is often referred to as the “silent” stage, as no clinical symptoms are present. In most cases, individuals with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease will not notice any symptoms, nor will those around them.
Individuals in the MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease stage typically experience subtle changes to their memory, thinking, and other cognitive abilities. These changes are not severe enough to interfere with their Activities of Daily Living (normal day-to-day activities).
Mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease is the third stage in the continuum and is regarded as the middle stage. In this stage, some individuals are still able to live independently and complete their normal daily activities but may experience symptoms such as:
Moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease and severe dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease are considered the severe, or advanced, stages of the disease.
Patients with moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty completing Activities of Daily Living, such as eating, bathing, and dressing, and may require assisted living. Cognitive changes become more pronounced and functional changes, such as issues with fine motor coordination and changes in gait, may arise in addition to personality and behavioral changes.
In the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive symptoms become severe, and patients often experience a decline in physical abilities. Symptoms in this stage typically include:
While it can vary from patient to patient, the rate of cognitive and functional decline is often much greater in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Consequently, the ability to complete normal daily activities may decline at a more rapid pace. This is important to understand because patients in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease may require more frequent adjustments to their care plan to accommodate their changing needs. They may also be at greater risk of falls and serious injury.
In the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the role of caregivers is to preserve the quality of life and provide comfort while ensuring the patient’s safety. Intensive, around-the-clock care is typically required.
Focus on things the patient enjoys and beyond all else, treat them with compassion and respect. While they may not be able to hold a conversation or express their needs, caregivers may consider engaging their senses to promote a positive mood. Play some of their favorite music, look at old photo albums together, make them their favorite meal, brush their hair, or take in some sunshine outside together.
The Alzheimer’s Association recommends caregivers take into account the following late-stage care considerations:
To ensure the safety of a late-stage Alzheimer’s patient, it is important to assess fall risk and make changes to the living environment that may reduce the risk of falls. To reduce fall risk, caregivers may consider the following protective considerations:
To prevent or further reduce the risk of falls, caregivers and senior living facilities can employ fall risk assessment tools to develop personalized fall prevention strategies, reassessing throughout patient care to make adjustments as needed.
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