Quite often, it is at this stage when the patient will begin to lose substantial memories, such as not recognizing loved ones. Suddenly finding themselves in strange surroundings, one can only imagine how frightening it must seem, having a stranger come up and try to insist that they are your son or daughter and trying to touch you. Naturally, it comes as little surprise that Alzheimer’s patients, at this stage of the dementia, are also prone to becoming anxious or aggressive and, if left unattended, will commonly wander from where they are supposed to be.

Sadly, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, nor is there any way of reversing its effects on those who fall victim to it. Believed to stem from a disruption in the nerve cells and chemical transmitters in the brain, this condition will continue until the patient not only loses the memories of friend and family, but also memories of learning how to talk, walk, use the restroom, and so on. In time, they have no other option than having to have full time, and total, care.

In the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the patient has usually lost their ability to communicate and has forgotten simple things that we take for granted, like how to swallow or the ability to breathe. While people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease have been known to live for 20 years after being diagnosed with it, the average amount of remaining time is usually about 8 years. Watching a loved one slip away over several years can be devastating to a family and crushing for loved ones. The fourth most common cause of death amongst our elderly, Alzheimer’s is a serious condition and researchers continue to study it, in hopes of finding ways to beat it.

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