In the UK, one in every 11 people over 65 lives with dementia – here’s what you should know
A psychologist has examined the main stages of dementia and how to recognise them in yourself or others. Her guidance comes at a time when over 944,000 people in the UK are living with the condition, including one in every 11 over age 65.
Dr Kelynn Lee, CEO of the Dementia Care Hub, shared her insights in a brief TikTok video reposted this month. She explained that although many think there are five or even ten stages of dementia, it is simpler to classify them into three.
“I want to talk about the three stages of dementia. So, I hear bandied around quite a lot all these different stages,” she explained on the platform. “So, on something I saw the other day, there were 10 stages, on another thing there is seven stages, on another thing there are five stages.
“I think sometimes with dementia, because it is so uncertain, and people are really anxious about understanding and wanting to support people as well as they can, care partners can sometimes get stuck.
“Get stuck on what stage of the dementia this person is at, because then, ‘I know what to expect’ and then, ‘I can support them as well as I possibly can’. I don’t think it’s particularly helpful. I think it’s much more helpful to think of dementia in three stages.”
It’s important to recognise that dementia is not a single condition but a broad term that encompasses a range of symptoms caused by various health problems. Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia are all categorised as forms of dementia. These issues are not an inevitable or normal part of ageing.
While each form of dementia has its own distinct symptoms, Dr Lee provided a brief overview of the common stages that dementia cases usually go through. Her main points are summarised below.
Mild dementia
Dr Lee explained that ‘mild dementia’ usually refers to the very first stages of cognitive decline. According to Surrey Live, whilst someone will generally manage everyday life reasonably well, they might begin to:
- Misplace items
- Have trouble with short-term memory
- Feel increasingly anxious
- Experience mood changes
- Notice food taste changes
- Have difficulty concentrating
- Have some difficulty solving problems
- Become increasingly forgetful
- Have some communication issues
It’s important to recognise that these symptoms can vary greatly between individuals. Dementia UK notes that, in the early stages, Alzheimer’s disease is especially associated with mild issues in memory and concentration.
In contrast, language and communication difficulties tend to be more prominent in the early stages of frontotemporal and vascular dementia. Even still, Dr Lee said: “You might be thinking here is, ‘Well, I have quite a few of those, does that mean that I’m in early-stage dementia?’ No, it doesn’t.
“..What we are doing is we’re looking at things that you kind of go, ‘This isn’t right, this is a continuous pattern,’ ok. This isn’t changing, it’s not because I’m highly stressed, therefore I can’t concentrate particularly well at the moment.
“Or, I’m having difficulty problem-solving because my anxiety is quite high. We are looking at significant patterns of behaviour. So, yes, we may all have some of those things just in general life, but we are looking at those patterns of them being consistent.”
Moderate dementia
Moving on to the second stage of dementia, Dr Lee explained that certain common symptoms may include:
- Forgetting events (for example, when you ate breakfast or something from your personal history)
- Increase mood swings
- Difficulty in social/challenging situations
- Feeling withdrawn
- Getting lost and becoming more restless
- Increased anxieties
- Needing support getting dressed
- Trouble sleeping
- Incontinence
On the last point, she added: “Incontinence may become an issue because the messages that are going through the brain which alert us to the fact that we need the toilet […and then] to go to the toilet, to actually use the toilet and then, you know.
“That isn’t necessarily taking place or isn’t taking place quick enough. Changes in sleep patterns, so we may see people sleeping a lot more during the day but also becoming much more restless at night.”
Severe dementia
When a person enters the third stage of dementia, Dr Lee explained that they will likely need constant personal care 24/7. This stage is typically the most challenging for both the person and their family to handle.
Typical symptoms can encompass:
- Changes in physical abilities (might be more prone to falls)
- Swallowing issues
- Communication difficulties
- Losing awareness of recent experiences and surroundings
- Distress
- Loss of recognition
- Increasingly prone to infection
Dr Lee added: “But also in the late stages, people become much more prone and vulnerable to infections, especially things like pneumonia. So, this is where we talk about dementia as a terminal condition; they are much more prone to those things, having a much larger effect than they would have if the person didn’t have dementia.
“So, three stages. Mild, moderate and severe. Much more helpful.”
