TL;DR
Dementia progresses through seven stages, from normal aging to severe decline, impacting memory, daily activities, and independence. Early recognition helps families prepare care plans and transitions. Specialized memory care communities, like Summerfield of Redlands, provide structured support, safety, and enrichment for each stage of the dementia journey.
- Dementia is a progressive process with seven stages.
- Stage 1–2: Normal brain function and age-related forgetfulness.
- Stage 3: Mild cognitive impairment; early dementia signs.
- Stage 4: Moderate decline; complex tasks become difficult.
- Stage 5: Moderate dementia; requires daily assistance.
- Stage 6: Severe decline; loss of self-care and recognition.
- Stage 7: Advanced dementia; severe memory loss and loss of motor/speech abilities.
- Specialized memory care communities provide tailored support, safety, and activity programs for patients at all stages.
Dementia can be a debilitating condition for anyone who develops it. But it can also affect those around the patient, with frustration and hopelessness being felt by everyone involved.
However, you may be surprised to learn that dementia is not a condition so much as a process. Dementia, for those who develop it, presents itself in different phases as it takes hold on a patient’s mind.
In this explainer, we will discuss the various clinical stages of dementia so you can better understand them. With key insights from our memory care team, we hope you’ll be able to identify your loved one’s stage of dementia. We also hope you’ll come away understanding the appropriate next steps.
But no matter what, know that support is here for you and your loved one.
The Stages of Dementia
How many stages of dementia are there, you may be wondering. There are, in fact, seven. Let’s break down all seven stages of dementia:
Stage 1: No Dementia Seen
This is the earliest stage of dementia. However, it’s a misnomer of sorts because this stage is actually free of dementia. A normally-functioning brain without any cognitive or functional decline is described as stage 1. Most individuals can be classified as stage 1.
Stage 2: Age-Related Forgetfulness
Those over the age of 65 often report the recall of important facts or details is more challenging than it once was. Birthdays, names, and even the location of commonly used objects around their home can be befuddling.
However, this is a normal stage of mental decline and is not tied directly to a diagnosis of dementia. For loved ones suffering age-related forgetfulness, keeping their mental faculties sharp are critical in stymying further decline.
It’s worth noting this stage can, on average, last a good 15 years.
Stage 3: Mild Cognitive Impairment
This stage centers on accelerating evidence of mental slowdown. It commonly offers the earliest signs of dementia.
For those suffering from MCI, complex tasks that were once simple become harder to complete. Job performance may suffer. Mastering new skills becomes more challenging. And even the ability to navigate complicated social arrangements may become more difficult.
Early stage dementia communication patterns may reveal themselves in a loss for words, repeating, word substitution, and more.
Here, counseling often helps navigate the newfound challenges and the anxieties they preset. Because this phase can sometimes last for years (seven, in many cases), active management is the best course of action.
Stage 4: Moderate Cognitive Impairment
Doctors will typically not diagnose Alzheimer’s disease until a patient reaches this stage of cognitive decline. This is because the earliest signs of dementia can be quite subtle. However, once the symptoms of stage 4 present themselves, a diagnosis becomes much easier to accomplish.
Patients with stage 4 cognitive impairment may see a decreased ability to complete complex activities of daily living. Shopping for household necessities, paying bills, and even ordering food can all be a challenge for a stage 4 patient. Memory loss, emotional flattening, and an increased denialism all commonly present themselves during this phase as well.
If you see any of the above symptoms in your loved one, it may be time to consider an Alzheimer’s analysis.
Stage 5: Moderate Dementia
For late stages of dementia, an increased reliance on external support for daily tasks is all but necessary. Food preparation, reminders about bathing, and more are all on the table for a stage 5 dementia patient.
It goes without saying that once a person reaches stage 5, they commonly cannot fend for themselves in a sustainable way.
Symptoms of this stage include scattered short- and long-term memories, forgetfulness about key facts, and more. This is a stage that necessitates support to ensure the patient’s safety.
Stage 6: Moderately Severe Dementia
Daily dressing, hygiene, toileting, and more must be administered for a patient in the late stages of dementia. This stage experiences such severe memory loss that nearly all unassisted daily habits seem to go by the wayside.
Similarly, a stage 6 patient will often have no knowledge of current events, weather, or other goings on. Facial recognition becomes a true challenge during this phase, as a sufferer may also start to confuse their loved ones.
Fear, frustration, shame, anger, and more are all commonly felt by stage 6 dementia patients.
Stage 7: Severe Dementia
Speech declines to a point of unintelligible communication during this phase. Ambulation can also be lost during stage 7.
However, this phase contains several sub-phases that make basic body control more challenging. While this decline can last years, the loss of the ability to hold one’s head up can sometimes make this stage feel the longest of all.
This is also, as the final phase of dementia, the stage with the most terminal adverse effects on the brain. Here, development reverts to primitive functions not seen since infancy.
Alzheimer’s patients typically pass at some point during the seventh phase of the disease. Pneumonia and infections are commonly to blame.
Get the Dementia Support Your Loved One Needs
Remember, with Alzheimer’s disease, a patient’s journey is not theirs to take alone. If a loved one is beginning to show signs of mental decline, you have the support you need to provide for them.
At Summerfield of Redlands, our memory care unit offers the best of care to each of our dementia residents. Our caring, engaging, and connecting community ensures residents here get the care they need. And daily resident activities are designed to help stave off the signs of dementia with smartly-designed programming.
Give your loved one a supportive experience as they continue on their Alzheimer’s journey. Summerland of Redlands is here to help, regardless of which of the seven stages of dementia your loved one is in.