About Alzheimer's Disease: Symptoms

• Very early signs and symptoms
• Mild Alzheimer's disease
• Moderate Alzheimer's disease
• Severe Alzheimer's disease
• Learn more

The course of Alzheimer's disease is not the same in every person, but symptoms seem to develop over the same general stages. In most people with Alzheimer's, symptoms first appear after age 60.

Scientists now know that Alzheimer’s progresses on a spectrum with three stages—an early, preclinical stage with no symptoms; a middle stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI); and a final stage of Alzheimer’s dementia. At this time, doctors cannot predict with any certainty which people with MCI will or will not develop Alzheimer’s.

Very early signs and symptoms

Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease. Sometimes, other thinking problems, such as trouble finding the right words or poor judgment, are most prominent early on. Read more about other early signs of Alzheimer's »

Mild Alzheimer's disease

As the disease progresses, memory loss worsens, and changes in other cognitive abilities are evident. Problems can include:

• getting lost
• trouble handling money and paying bills
• repeating questions
• taking longer to complete normal daily tasks
• poor judgment
• losing things or misplacing them in odd places
• mood and personality changes

 Alzheimer's disease is often diagnosed at this stage.

Moderate Alzheimer's disease

In this stage, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Symptoms may include:

• increased memory loss and confusion
• problems recognizing family and friends
• inability to learn new things
• difficulty carrying out tasks that involve multiple steps (such as getting dressed)
• problems coping with new situations
• hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
• impulsive behavior

Severe Alzheimer's disease

People with severe Alzheimer's cannot communicate and are completely dependent on others for their care. Near the end, the person may be in bed most or all of the time as the body shuts down. Their symptoms often include:

• inability to communicate
• weight loss
• seizures
• skin infections
• difficulty swallowing
• groaning, moaning, or grunting
• increased sleeping
• lack of control of bowel and bladder

Learn more

For more detailed information on signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, read the section in Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery, "The Changing Brain in AD."