The following is reprinted from The Alzheimer’s Association educational materials

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that leads to personality changes, memory loss, intellectual slowing, and other Alzheimer’s symptoms. Although each person with Alzheimer’s is different, most progress through a series of stages, each of which is characterized by more serious Alzheimer’s symptoms.

The following seven stages were developed by researchers and physicians to describe how you or your loved one will change over time. Your doctor might collapse the seven stages into early/middle/late or mild/moderate/severe, so these classifications are provided as well.

Stage 1 (Absence of Impairment)
There are no problems with memory, orientation, judgment, communication, or daily activities. You or your loved one is a normally functioning adult.

Stage 2 (Minimal Impairment)
You or your loved one might be experiencing some lapses in memory or other cognitive problems, but neither family nor friends are able to detect any changes. A medical exam would not reveal any problems either.

Stage 3 (Noticeable Cognitive Decline)
Family members and friends recognize mild changes in memory, communication patterns, or behavior. A visit to the doctor might result in a diagnosis of early-stage or mild Alzheimer’s disease, but not always. Common symptoms in this stage include:

• Problems producing people’s names or the right words for objects
• Noticeable difficulty functioning in employment or social settings
• Forgetting material that has just been read
• Misplacing important objects with increasing frequency
• Decrease in planning or organizational skills

Stage 4 (Early-Stage/Mild Alzheimer’s)
Cognitive decline is more evident. You or your loved one may become more forgetful of recent events or personal details. Other problems include impaired mathematical ability (for instance, difficulty counting backwards from 100 by 9s), a diminished ability to carry out complex tasks like throwing a party or managing finances, moodiness, and social withdrawal.

Stage 5 (Middle-Stage/Moderate Alzheimer’s)
Some assistance with daily tasks is required. Problems with memory and thinking are quite noticeable, including symptoms such as:

• An inability to recall one’s own contact information or key details about one’s history
• Disorientation to time and/or place
• Decreased judgment and skills in regard to personal care

Even though symptoms are worsening, people in this stage usually still know their own name and the names of key family members and can eat and use the bathroom without assistance.

Stage 6 (Moderate to Late-Stage/Severe Alzheimer’s)
This is often the most difficult stage for caregivers because it’s characterized by personality and behavior changes. In addition, memory continues to decline, and assistance is required for most daily activities. The most common symptoms associated with this stage include:

• Reduced awareness of one’s surroundings and of recent events
• Problems recognizing one’s spouse and other close family members, although faces are still distinguished between familiar and unfamiliar
• Sundowning, which is increased restlessness and agitation in the late afternoon and evening
• Difficulty using the bathroom independently
• Bowel and bladder incontinence
• Suspicion
• Repetitive behavior (verbal and/or nonverbal)
• Wandering

Stage 7 (Late-Stage/Severe Alzheimer’s)
In the final stage, it is usually no longer possible to respond to the surrounding environment. You or your loved one may be able to speak words or short phrases, but communication is extremely limited. Basic functions begin to shut down, such as motor coordination and the ability to swallow. Total care is required around the clock.

Although the stages provide a blueprint for the progression of Alzheimer’s symptoms, not everyone advances through the stages similarly. Caregivers report that their loved ones sometimes seem to be in two or more stages at once, and the rate at which people advance through the stages is highly individual. Still, the stages help us understand Alzheimer’s symptoms and prepare for their accompanying challenges.

Learn more about Alzheimer’s at The Alzheimer’s Association.

My grandmother has Alzheimer’s disease, my father died of a brain hemorrhage and my mother suffered several mini-strokes at a relatively young age. Brain function, therefore, is a pretty important topic for me. I want to understand what’s normal and what’s cause for concern.

If you have a family history of Alzheimer’s, or have concerns about cognitive functioning, check out the 10 most common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

1. Memory loss

It is normal to occasionally forget names, appointments and where you put your keys. Memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s is more than that, and usually begins with an inability to recall recently-learned information. Someone with Alzheimer’s progressively forgets more things more often, and is unable to recall the information later.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks

All of us, particularly in times of stress or worry, forget why we came into a room or what we were about to say. People with Alzheimer’s, however, find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. They may lose track of the steps to prepare a meal, to place a telephone call or to play a long-enjoyed game.

3. Problems with language

Everybody, at one time or another, is at a loss for words. People suffering from Alzheimer’s forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech and writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find their sweater, for example, and instead ask for “that thing that keeps me warm.”

4. Disorientation to time and place

I often get lost when navigating a new town or following another’s directions. This is not uncommon. People with Alzheimer’s, however, get lost in their own neighborhoods, forget where they are and how they got there, and find themselves unable to get back home.

5. Poor or decreased judgment

People make mistakes. We make choices that turn out to be the wrong ones. For people with with Alzheimer’s, this becomes frequent and differs greatly from their character. One simple example is dressing inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may also show poor judgment in more harmful areas, like giving away large sums of money or inviting strangers into their homes.

6. Problems with abstract thinking

Many of us have difficulty with math and some people struggle with complex reasoning problems. These are simply differences in skills and abilities. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks at which they were previously adept. They may also forget simple things, like what numbers are and how they should be used.

7.  Misplacing things

Have you ever lost your keys, or locked them in the car? It happens. It’s a normal part of the human experience. What is not normal is the inability to understanding the appropriate location for things. A person with Alzheimer’s disease will often put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer,  jewelry in the sugar bowl, milk in the oven.

8.  Changes in mood or behavior

Feeling sad or moody is part of the human experience, but someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings - from calm to tears to anger - for no apparent reason.

9. Changes in personality

I am grateful that my personality has evolved as I have aged, But the personalities of people with dementia often change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member. In the later stages of Alzheimer’s, anger, frustration and aggression are common.

10. Loss of initiative

Most of us have felt overwhelmed and overextended at one time or another, wishing we could skip certain activities of commitments. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may completely stop participating in the activities they usually enjoy. He may become passive, avoid social contact, sit in front of the TV for hours, and sleep more than usual.

If you have a family history of Alzheimer’s Disease, or if many of these symptoms describe you or someone you love, get more information and support from The Alzheimer’s Association.

Because Inside Each of Us Is a Wild Thing!

Fall 2009 — Cannot Wait!

A New Movie About Life, Love and Being Different

An online acquaintance, Chrysti Hydeck, whose amazing art is available at her Etsy store, The Altered Abbey, introduced me to Phoebe in Wonderland.

The trailer and publicity material are deeply moving. I expect wonder, enchantment and enlightenment from the film itself.

I cannot wait to see it. I will report back when I have.

“It’s not just that it’s okay to be different, but you can actually derive strength from it.”

Elizabeth Gilbert

A Different Way to Think about Creative Genius

Her fascinating perspective from the 2009 TED conference

“Don’t be afraid. Just do your job…If your job is to dance, DANCE… Ole′ to you!”

CUT: Teens and Self Injury

a documentary film by Wendy Schneider

“Urgent, searching, and profoundly moving, CUT issues a call to bring the problem of self-injury out of the shadows and reminds us that the first step towards healing is an honest acknowledgment of reality.”

Cut:Teens and Self Injury provides an intimate look at a problem that affects thousands of young people, their families and friends.  Resisting sensationalism and graphic images, the film draws its power from the voices of the teens themselves.

The film’s participants talk about the root causes of their cutting: Their experiences of alienation and inadequacy, their deep desire to feel, their sense of cutting as a part of the world they can control. They describe the resistance and denial that often greets their attempts to talk about their feelings and actions. Finally, they describe how they confronted and often overcame their urge to self-harm.

Interviews with parents and mental health professionals increase understanding of the problem and provide practical ways to address it.

CUT’s highlights include rock icon Shirley Manson’s testimony concerning her own cutting.

Fully aware of the extent of the problem, the film incorporates the perspectives of males and females, whites blacks and Asian Americans.

For CUT event information or to schedule a screening at your school or organization, please contact the director, Wendy Schneider, at :

Wendy@cutthemovie.com
P.O. Box 3253 Madison, WI 53704
608-239-5771

I began this website, blog and advocacy journey because I’m a mom. I’m a mom of three, two of whom developed a serious mental illness. As our family tackled the challenges of that reality, we learned a lot. Sure, we learned facts and data and medical minutiae, but we learned a whole lot more about love and tolerance, acceptance and gratitude and joy. Big stuff. Good stuff. Real stuff. We are blessed.

The video below, created by my Twitterfriends, Jyl at Mommy Gossip and Carissa at Good and Crazy People, warmly portrays all of that and more.

Enjoy. (And thank you Jyl and Carrissa).

Learn more about bipolar disorder and listen to this informative and candid interview.

Click on either of the above photos to view a 42 minute episode of “Footnote,” a weekly book talk show.

Watch the video.

Hear the voices of our children.

Make a difference.

VOTE!

Special thanks to fellow writer, speaker and mental health advocate, Andy Behrman, for spreading the word about this video.

And remember…your choices only count if you vote. If you can, VOTE early. If not, VOTE on November 4.

Huge election.

Significant outcomes.

Your opinions matter.

Let them be heard.

VOTE!