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Dementia is a set of symptoms caused by many different diseases and conditions. Dementia is caused when brain cells become damaged and eventually die. Thinking about your brain as a highway system, the damaged brain cells are the boxes on the road. This is what causes the changes to mood, emotions and ability to do everyday tasks. How and where the boxes fall on the highway varies between people.
The disease progression typically follows certain stages which will bring about changes in the person's and family's lives. Because the disease affects everyone differently, the symptoms, the order in which they appear, and the duration of each stage vary from person to person.
In most cases, the disease progresses slowly, and the symptoms of each stage may overlap, often making the move from one stage to another quite subtle. The duration of the disease is usually seven to ten years but may be much longer in some people.
The stages of the disease are commonly referred to as “early,” “middle,” and “late.” “End-of-life” is described as when the person nears death and comfort measures become the focus.
The infographics below provide additional information to help you better understand the changes you might see at each stage, important strategies for care partners, and " heads-up” signals to watch for over time.
Download and print these handouts as easy references.
