The 7 stages of senile dementia and dementia praecox

Cognitive decline associated with dementia gives different warning signs depending on its evolution.

The concept of "senile dementia" is used to refer to degenerative diseases that affect cognitive functioning, particularly memory, and occur at an advanced age. In contrast, we speak of dementia praecox or presenile dementia when symptoms occur earlier than would be expected, usually in middle age.

In this article we will describe the 7 stages of senile dementia and dementia praecox indistinctly, since the development of cognitive impairment follows the same approximate general lines regardless of the age at which symptoms begin to manifest.

The 7 stages of dementia

There are a large number of diseases that can cause dementia; some of the most common and well-known are Alzheimer's disease, Lewy's disease and recurrent stroke. Each disorder of this type initially affects distinct regions of the brain, although the symptomatic differences are reduced in advanced stages.

Although the symptoms of dementia depend on the specific alteration of each patient, the general progression of these diseases has been divided into seven stages according to the degree of deterioration of the disease. seven stages depending on the degree of cognitive impairment at any given time. the person presents at any given time.

1. Absence of cognitive impairment

The first stage of cognitive impairment corresponds to the absence of cognitive impairment; therefore, most people are in this phase, which can be included along with the next two in the "pre-dementia" category, characterized by normal or near-normal cognitive functioning.

A person is considered to be in phase 1 when no significant cognitive symptoms that can be attributed to brain impairment, such as memory loss more significant attributable to a deterioration of the brain, such as memory losses more relevant than those caused by lack of energy or attention, among other common factors.

2. Age-related memory deficits

Aging, and in particular the onset of senescence, is naturally associated with small memory losses that manifest themselves mainly in forgetting names or locations of objects. The second phase of cognitive decline is characterized by the presence of these deficits on a more or less regular basis.

Although in many cases the occurrence of occasional forgetfulness is merely a consequence of aging, in some cases memory loss may indicate a future severe deterioration of cognitive function. may indicate a future severe deterioration of cognition.especially if the frequency of these is high and if the person is relatively young enough to have the forgetfulness typical of old age.

3. Mild cognitive impairment

The term "mild cognitive impairment" is used to describe cases in which there are noticeable signs of deterioration in memory and in the performance of everyday tasks. At this stage the cognitive deficits are more marked than would be expected for the person's age, even taking aging into account.

People with mild cognitive impairment have a higher risk of developing dementia than those who do not, although the progression of deficits often stops at this stage. It is common for those with this type of impairment to have problems retaining information, remembering words, concentrating or orienting themselves.

4. Mild or early dementia

The fourth stage corresponds to the onset of dementia as such. In this stage, which usually lasts about two years, changes in personality and mood begin to appear, changes in personality and mood begin to appear.. As social skills also deteriorate, the frequency of social interaction often decreases.

Cognitive problems become much more evident from the onset of dementia. Patients usually have some awareness of their disease when they reach this stage, although dementia also affects this recognition. They also tend to deny their symptoms as a defense mechanism.

5. Moderate dementia

During the intermediate stage of dementia, affected persons begin to need the help of other people to need the help of others to carry out daily tasks.. As the disease progresses, abilities such as using money, telephones or kitchen utensils, reading and writing, remembering information about oneself and even dressing oneself deteriorate.

6. Moderately severe dementia

At this stage, memory and cognition problems have worsened to the point that they interfere with the performance of a large number of activities; this will continue to increase as the dementia progresses. Most often at this stage, the person will need constant supervision by one or more caregivers. need constant supervision by one or more caregivers..

As for the most common symptoms and signs, in addition to the worsening of memory problems (which already include the recognition of close people) we find the appearance of feelings of anxiety and agitation, sleep problems, wandering, obsessive and repetitive behaviors, delusions or aggression.

7. Severe or advanced dementia

The average duration of end-stage dementia is approximately two and a half years. Advanced dementia is characterized by the generalized loss of psychomotor skills, including thoseincluding those necessary for speaking, walking, eating or using the bathroom.

Although the progression of each case of dementia depends on the disease causing it, they are all very similar during the final period because structural deterioration has spread to all regions of the brain.