What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?

Everyone is unique and will experience Alzheimer’s in his or her own way1

It’s important to remember that the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can vary from person to person. Impaired memory and cognition (the way someone thinks, reasons, and solves problems) are the most common symptoms, but not everyone will experience the same symptoms at the same rate. The seven stages below were developed by Barry Reisberg, MD, clinical director of the New York University School of Medicine’s Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center. They provide a general overview of what to expect over the course of the disease.

Seven stages of Alzheimer's1

Stage 1

No impairment (normal function)

The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a healthcare professional does not show any evidence of symptoms of dementia.

Stage 2

Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease)

The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses — forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms of dementia can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family members, or coworkers.

Stage 3

Mild cognitive decline (early stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms)

Friends, family members, or coworkers begin to notice difficulties. During a detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory or concentration. Common stage 3 difficulties include:

  • Noticeable problems coming up with the right word or name
  • Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people
  • Having noticeably greater difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings
  • Forgetting material that one has just read
  • Losing or misplacing a valuable object
  • Increasing trouble with planning or organizing

Stage 4

Moderate cognitive decline (mild or early stage Alzheimer’s disease)

At this point, a careful medical interview should be able to detect clear-cut symptoms in several areas:

  • Forgetfulness of recent events
  • Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic (for example, counting backward from 100 by 7s)
  • Greater difficulty performing complex tasks (such as planning dinner for guests, paying bills, or managing finances)
  • Forgetfulness about one's own personal history
  • Becoming moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations

Stage 5

Moderately severe cognitive decline (moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease)

Gaps in memory and thinking are noticeable, and individuals begin to need help with day-to-day activities. At this stage, people with Alzheimer's may:

  • Be unable to recall their own address or telephone number or the high school or college from which they graduated
  • Become confused about where they are or what day it is
  • Have trouble with less challenging mental arithmetic (for example, counting backward from 40 by subtracting 4s or from 20 by subtracting 2s)
  • Need help choosing proper clothing for the season or an occasion
  • Still remember significant details about themselves and their family members
  • Still require no assistance with eating or using the toilet

Stage 6

Severe cognitive decline (moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)

Memory continues to worsen, personality changes may take place, and people need extensive help with daily activities. At this stage, people may:

  • Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their surroundings
  • Remember their own name but have difficulty with their personal history
  • Distinguish familiar and unfamiliar faces but have trouble remembering the name of a spouse or caregiver
  • Need help dressing properly and may, without supervision, make mistakes such as putting pajamas over daytime clothes or shoes on the wrong feet
  • Experience major changes in sleep patterns (for example, sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night)
  • Need help handling details of toileting (for example, flushing the toilet, wiping, or disposing of tissue properly)
  • Have increasingly frequent trouble controlling their bladder or bowels
  • Experience major personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions (such as believing that their caregiver is an impostor) or compulsive, repetitive behavior like hand-wringing or tissue shredding
  • Wander or become lost

Stage 7

Very severe cognitive decline (severe or late-stage Alzheimer’s disease)

In the final stage of this disease, people lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. They may still say words or phrases.

At this stage, people need help with much of their daily personal care, including eating or using the toilet. They may also lose the ability to smile, to sit without support, and to hold their heads up. Reflexes become abnormal. Muscles grow rigid. Swallowing becomes impaired.

How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?