Dementia is a general term for a decline in cognitive function that affects memory, problem-solving skills, language, and functions that affect daily living. Specific types of dementias advance at unique rates and differ from person to person. However, it can be helpful to think of dementia progressing in three stages: early, middle, and late, which are sometimes called mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. These stages can be used to understand how dementia is likely to change over time and to help people prepare for the future. The stages also act as a guide to when certain treatments, such as medicines for Alzheimer’s disease, are likely to work best.

The stages of dementia are just a guide, and there is nothing significant about the number three. Dementia doesn’t follow an exact or certain set of steps that happen in the same way for every person with dementia. It can be difficult to tell when a person’s dementia has progressed from one stage to another because the symptoms can vary between different types of dementia and between individuals.

The following are the three stages of dementia:

1. Early stage: This stage is when the following common symptoms start to affect the person’s daily life: memory loss, difficulty finding the right words, difficulty with planning and organizing, difficulty with handling money and paying bills, and becoming more forgetful of recent events and conversations.

2. Middle stage: This stage is often the longest and can last for many years. During this stage, the dementia symptoms are more pronounced. The person may confuse words, get frustrated or angry, and act in unexpected ways, such as refusing to bathe. Damage to nerve cells in the brain can also make it difficult for the person to express thoughts and perform routine tasks without assistance. The person with Alzheimers will require a greater level of care.

3. Late stage: In the final stage of the disease, dementia symptoms are severe. Individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation, and eventually to control movement. They may still say words or phrases, but communicating pain becomes difficult. As memory and cognitive skills continue to worsen, significant personality changes may take place[[4]](https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/how-dementia-p...