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Progression of Dementia

Progression of Dementia

Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder and will progress over time. The rate of progression may vary from individual to individual. Currently, there is no cure but there are ways in which the rate of decline may be slowed. Please refer to the Lifestyles and Therapy section of this website.

As symptoms progress, thinking processes will become more impaired, leading to increased difficulty in performing activities of daily living (ADLs).

The chart below roughly graphs the progression of the disease.

Stage of Dementia Problems with Thinking Problems with Daily
Functioning
Mild Short term memory loss
Some word finding
Loss of reasoning
Judgment
Calculation
Overestimate skills
May have awareness		 Work
Money/shopping
Cooking
Housekeeping
Reading
Writing
Hobbies
Medications
Moderate Poor recent memory
Remote memory is generally unaffected
Language (names and paraphrases)
Still social but confusion
Orientation
Visual/spatial ability		 Needs help but often refuses
Misplacing objects
Getting lost
Needs help in bathing/dressing and grooming
Overwhelmed in large social situations
Increase in apathy
Severe Attention
Difficulty performing familiar activities
Poor language		 Needs to be fed
Incontinent of bowel/bladder
Unable to walk
Motor slowing

(Alzheimer’s Association, 2008)

Stage of Dementia – Mild

Problems with Thinking:

  • Short term memory loss
  • Some word finding
  • Loss of reasoning
  • Judgment
  • Calculation
  • Overestimate skills
  • May have awareness

Problems with Daily Functioning:

  • Work
  • Money/shopping
  • Cooking
  • Housekeeping
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Hobbies
  • Medications

Stage of Dementia – Moderate

Problems with Thinking:

  • Poor recent memory
  • Remote memory is generally unaffected
  • Language (names and paraphrases)
  • Still social but confusion
  • Orientation
  • Visual/spatial ability

Problems with Daily Functioning:

  • Needs help but often refuses
  • Misplacing objects
  • Getting lost
  • Needs help in bathing/dressing and grooming
  • Overwhelmed in large social situations
  • Increase in apathy

Stage of Dementia – Severe

Problems with Thinking:

  • Attention
  • Difficulty performing familiar activities
  • Poor language

Problems with Daily Functioning:

  • Needs to be fed
  • Incontinent of bowel/bladder
  • Unable to walk
  • Motor slowing

(Alzheimer’s Association, 2008)