And occasionally they move between stages back and forth - better days and bad days - before fully moving to a new stage.

Dear Helen, I agree with your super on point description. The 7 stages are more meaningful to caregivers and families. As you mentioned, the more parts of the brain that are involved/effected by the ALZ changes the more symptoms reflecting what each of those areas of the brain control. The sad march of the disease that we witness over time.

The Steps are the same, whether it’s Alzheimer’s &/or Dementia. (Alzheimer’s is just one form of Dementia.)

Some doctors prefer to think of it as three (mild - moderate- severe) probably to simplify things for themselves, because it’s common for a patient to be mostly one stage but exhibit some behaviors from the next stage, etc. plus they only see the patients occasionally. For Caregivers who are with our loved ones 24/7, I personally think the 7 Stages are better. The progression is uniquely different for each individual, depending on what particular part(s) of their brains are most affected at a particular point in time.

I want to change my answer. The most surprising to me was when he began taking baby steps. He always walked with long, purposeful strides in pre dementia days. My mother’s gait never changed.