The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
At
the New York University Medical Center's Aging and Dementia Research Center,
Barry Reisberg, M.D., and colleagues have developed the Functional Assessment
Staging (FAST) scale, which allows professionals and caregivers to chart
the decline of people with Alzheimer's disease.
FAST Scale Stage | Characteristics |
1. Normal adult | No functional decline. |
2. Normal older adult | Personal awareness of some functional decline. |
3. Early Alzheimer's disease | Noticeable deficits in demanding job situations. |
4. Mild Alzheimer's | Requires assistance in complicated tasks such as handling finances and planning parties. |
5. Moderate Alzheimer's | Requires assistance in choosing proper attire. |
6. Moderately severe Alzheimer's | Requires assistance in dressing, bathing, and toileting. Has urinary and fecal incontinence. |
7. Severe Alzheimer's | Speech ability declines to about a half-dozen intelligible words. Progressive loss of abilities to walk, sit up, smile, and hold head up. |
© 1984 by
Barry Reisberg, M.D.
Dr. Reisberg has also shown that the decline typical
of Alzheimer's disease is the flip side of normal skill acquisition by
infants, children, and young adults:
Ability | Age of acquisition during normal development | Alzheimer's stage at which ability is lost |
Select proper clothing. | 5-7 years | 5. Moderate Alzheimer's |
Handle simple finances. | 8-12 years | 4. Mild Alzheimer's |
Hold a job. Function independently in the world. | 12 years and older | 3. Early Alzheimer's disease |
© 1984 by
Barry Reisberg, M.D.
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