Table I. Stages of Alzheimer’s disease and associated impairments

Early Stage

Forgetfulness
Personality changes
Employment performance problems
Social withdrawal
Apathy
Errors in judgment
Inattentiveness
Personal hygiene neglect

Middle Stage

Disorientation
Loss of coordination
Restlessness and anxiety
Language difficulty
Sleep pattern disturbance
Progressive memory loss
Catastrophic reactions
Pacing

Advanced Stage

Profound comprehension difficulty
Gait disturbances
Bladder and bowel incontinence
Hyperoralia
Inability to recognize family members
Seizures
Aggression
Lack of insight regarding impairments

Terminal Stage

Physical immobility
Contractures
Dysphagia
Emaciation
Aphasia
Pathological reflexes
Unaware of environment
Total helplessness

From Fabiszewski KJ: Caring for the Alzheimer’s patient. Gerodontology 1987;6(2):53-58.