Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a slowly progressing, irreversible neurodegenerative brain disease with a long preclinical phase (up to 20 years) and an average clinical duration of 8 to 10 years. The progression of AD is accompanied by changes to the brain that serve as disease biomarkers.
Alzheimer’s disease symptoms often start subtly. People with early Alzheimer’s disease (and their families) may mistake the early signs for normal aging and put off going to a doctor.
Disease progression typically spans several stages. These stages include preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease dementia varying from mild to severe.
During this stage, clinicians may be able to detect very early features of Alzheimer’s disease compared to other causes of memory loss or other forms of cognitive impairment. These features can be detected using validated tools such as Mini-Cog, General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG), Memory Impairment Screen (MIS), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).7-9
The rate of cognitive decline increases sharply in the years before dementia. Since MCI is the earliest stage of Alzheimer’s disease with observable symptoms, this leaves limited time between diagnosis and dementia—with estimates ranging from 2 to 6 years.1,5,6.
Patients with MCI due to AD have been shown to convert to AD dementia at an annual rate of 31%.
Emergencies do not follow a schedule. For seniors living with memory loss, things can change fast. A sudden fall. Dizziness out of nowhere. Confusion in the middle of the night. That is why having round the clock nursing support is such a big deal. It brings comfort, safety, and quick action when it matters most. […]
Life with memory loss can feel like a foggy day. Some moments are clear. Others feel mixed up. Still, joy finds a way in. That is where social and recreational programs come in. When done right, they bring comfort, smiles, and a sense of purpose. At Village Green Memory Care Community, activities are not rushed […]
Living with dementia can feel like being dropped into the middle of a fog. One minute things seem okay. The next minute, nothing makes sense. That confusion often brings anxiety along for the ride. Over time, it can wear a person down. This is exactly why memory care matters so much. At places like Village […]
