Progression of dementia
When people hear that dementia is a progressive disease, they like to know what to expect and when to expect it.
- How is the person likely to change?
- What sort of behaviour will be encountered in the future?
- Will the person become incontinent/need feeding/not recognise me?
It is important to realise that people with dementia have differing symptoms and different rates at which their symptoms change. This is not only because there are different types of dementia, but also because it affects people differently due to personality and environmental factors.
There is a great deal of variability in the progression of dementia, and no definite answers can be given to what the future holds. A person's abilities may fluctuate to some extent from day to day, or even within the same day. Sometimes in a few months a massive decline can be seen; in other cases this may happen over a number of years. This is because people with dementia have few resources in reserve to withstand influences like tiredness, anxiety, or physical ill-health, which they would normally have taken in their stride.
Stages of dementia
It is important to remember not all of these features will be present in every person, nor will every person go through every stage. However it is a useful description of the general progression of dementia.
Will the person have all these symptoms?
No person with dementia has, or will have, all the symptoms described in the links above. These stages are a guide to the kind of issues carers, family and friends may come across. S ome people with dementia retain a similar personality to their earlier life, although sometimes a little exaggerated - the person who was always irritable, stubborn and difficult to get on with may remain so. The person who was friendly and affectionate may remain sweet and loving. However, a few people show a complete change and do things completely out of character. For example, a quiet, calm husband may become aggressive and abusive.