Dementia is a disease caused due to physical changes in the brain’s structure. It is a degenerative brain disease that progresses in various stages and can result due to multiple factors. The rate of progression is different in every individual. While it progresses rapidly in some, others will reach advanced stages after many years. The progression of this disease involves the following seven stages.

Stage 1: No impairment
During the initial stage of development, patients present no apparent symptoms whatsoever. This makes it difficult to detect the disease at this stage.

Stage 2: Very mild decline
After progressing to the second stage, patients with this condition begin to exhibit minor memory loss symptoms. They might forget minute details like where they placed their keys or their drink. The memory loss at this stage is little enough to be confused for forgetfulness. Patients in this stage can easily pass memory tests, failing dementia detection.

Stage 3: Mild decline
The symptoms in the third stage are considerably more evident as compared to the second. People at this stage will experience cognitive problems and may fail their memory test. They find it difficult to remember the names of people and things or spot the right word in their memory. They also find it challenging to plan and organize, and therefore lose or misplace their personal belongings frequently.

Stage 4: Moderate decline
In the fourth stage, the signs and symptoms of dementia are more apparent. At this stage, the patient cannot carry out simple calculations, making it difficult to pay their bills and manage their finances. The person will also exhibit a bad short-term memory, often forgetting details about their own life. Additionally, patients will also experience short yet frequent bouts of confusion, making tasks like driving, managing other household chores, or organizing their medications difficult. Despite the confusion and memory loss, patients at this stage of dementia find their way around daily life with little to no help.

Stage 5: Moderately severe decline
At this stage, patients with dementia start having trouble carrying out even their routine tasks. They start needing assistance for things as basic as getting dressed, finishing meals, or remembering a phone number they regularly dial. This stage brings severe confusion for patients and may even result in a meltdown triggered by the bouts of confusion. Despite the severity of symptoms, patients at this stage have some control over their routine and can maintain a certain level of activity during the day. They will still recognize their friends and family members and recollect memories associated with their present and past.

Stage 6: Severe decline
At this stage, the patient will require full-time assistance from their family or a professional caregiver. Common dementia symptoms observed at this stage include a lack of awareness of surroundings and bouts of confusion that last for a prolonged duration. Patients will also have difficulty identifying people they aren’t particularly close to and will forget a great deal of information about their own self. This stage also changes the patient’s personality and behavior, loss of control over the bladder and bowel movements, and the tendency to wander off without knowing.

Stage 7: Very severe decline
During this final stage of dementia, the patient is said to have reached a fatal condition. The person loses control over their bodily movements and no longer communicates. At this stage, the patient will need round-the-clock assistance and care as they cannot perform even the simplest tasks and become entirely dependent.