Prognosis for Alzheimer’s disease

Altered behaviour. Patients with Alzheimer’s, especially in moderate or moderately severe stages, can present marked behavioural changes in the form of irritability, aggressiveness or confusion, which may be accompanied by delusions and/or hallucinations. Although these symptoms tend to develop progressively, they can sometimes appear suddenly in a matter of hours or days. These episodes are often caused by changes in the patient’s routine or because of a medical problem, even though it may be mild and sometimes hard to identify.

Respiratory or urinary infections. Respiratory infections and urinary incontinence are frequently observed in advanced stages of the disease. Patients may also find it hard to swallow food correctly.

In early stages, patients often present mood disorders which could be part of the actual disease or because they are worried about cognitive problems they have noticed or the diagnosis itself, especially if this is made early on.

In moderate and moderately severe stages, the most significant chronic complication is the appearance of altered behaviours, such as irritability, confusion, aggressiveness (usually verbal), false memories or delusions. These symptoms frequently fluctuate and predominantly arise in the evening (“sundowning” effect). Although these symptoms are very common throughout the course of the disease, in most patients they do not tend to be disruptive or are only temporary.

An altered sleep pattern is also typical in moderate and moderately severe stages. Patients may go to bed earlier because they wake up earlier or, alternatively, they cannot sleep and get up several times during the night.

In severe stages, the main complication is a loss of mobility and its associated problems.