A psychologist has provided a deep dive into the crucial stages of dementia, offering guidance on how to recognise them in oneself or loved ones. This comes at a time when over 944,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, including one in every 11 aged over 65.

A seasoned psychologist has delved into the pivotal stages of dementia, providing insightful advice on recognizing these stages in yourself or loved ones. This insight is particularly timely, as over 944,000 individuals in the UK are currently living with dementia, including one in every 11 people over the age of 65.

Dr. Kelynn Lee, who leads the Dementia Care Hub, shared her knowledge in a succinct TikTok video that has gained renewed attention this year. She addressed the common misconception regarding the number of dementia stages, simplifying it to three main phases for better understanding.

“Let’s discuss the three stages of dementia,” she began in her video. “There seems to be a lot of confusion, with some sources suggesting there are up to 10 stages, while others mention seven or five stages.”

Dr. Lee highlighted the anxiety that often accompanies the uncertainty of dementia, as people strive to support those affected as effectively as possible. She noted that caregivers may become fixated on identifying the specific stage to better predict and manage the condition.

“People often feel stuck trying to pinpoint which stage the person is in, thinking, ‘If I know what to expect, I can provide the best support.’ However, I find it more beneficial to consider dementia in three stages,” she advised.

It’s crucial to recognize that dementia is not a single disorder. Instead, it refers to a collection of symptoms caused by various diseases, including vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, all classified under the umbrella of dementia.

Mild dementia

Dr Lee clarified that ‘mild dementia’ usually describes the earliest phase of cognitive deterioration. 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

Crucially, these indicators can differ from person to person. According to Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s disease is one variant of dementia particularly linked with minor concentration and memory difficulties in its initial phases.

In contrast, language and communication difficulties tend to be more prominent in the early stages of frontotemporal and vascular dementia. Even still, Dr Lee explained: “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

Progressing to the second phase of dementia, Dr Lee outlined several typical symptoms which 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 latter 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 someone reaches the third phase of dementia, Dr Lee noted they will probably require continuous personal care around the clock. This phase typically presents the greatest difficulties for both the individual and their family members.

Typical symptoms can include:

• 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.”