Category Archives: Dementia

Dementia patients oversleeping is the direct result of brain cell damage during the later stages of this disease.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is the decline of cognitive functioning — remembering, thinking, and reasoning — to such degree that it interferes with an individual’s day-to-day life and activities. Many people with dementia cannot keep their emotions under control, and their personalities could change. Dementia ranges in intensity from the most minimal stage, as it is just starting to impact an individual’s functioning, to the most intense stage, when the individual is required to rely completely on others for basic activities of day-to-day living, like feeding themselves.

Dementia impact millions of people across the globe and is more typical as people get older (around 1/3^rd of all individuals aged eighty-five or older may have some type of dementia) but it is not a typical part of getting older. A lot of individuals live into their nineties and beyond devoid of any signs of dementia.

There are several various forms of dementia, like Alzheimer’s, namely the most common.

Why Do People With Dementia Sleep So Much?

Oversleeping is quite common in the later and end-stages of dementia. Of course, a healthy sleeping schedule is crucial for seniors, so it’s important for loved ones to support proper sleeping patterns.

As dementia progresses, brain damage becomes excessive. This makes individuals feel weak and frail over time. Executive function changes in the frontal lobe of the brain may result in a lack of motivation, which can appear to be apathy from the outside looking in. This can make easy tasks like talking, feel exhausting to the individual with dementia.

People suffering from dementia can also experience dramatic changes in their circadian rhythm or the sleep-wake cycle. This ultimately works against quality of sleep. The brain’s internal clock always tells us when to sleep and when to be alert. Individuals with dementia often have impaired brain cells related to sleep cycles. This can result in sleeping excessively during the day but less at night.

What Are The Seven Stages Of Dementia?

Stage 1: The first stage is characterized by healthy people experiencing no signs of memory loss or dementia.

Stage 2: Stage 2 includes people who consistently forget things, usually caused by aging. Symptoms are generally mild and rarely noticed by friends or loved ones.

Stage 3: This stage includes increased forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating, among other things. Stage 3 can last up to 7 years before onset of early stage dementia.

Stage 4: Stage 4 is considered “early dementia.” People suffering in stage 4 will have trouble remembering recent activities/events and increased difficulty concentrating. Decreased self worth and a decline in social interaction are usually included in this stage, as well.

Stage 5: The 5th stage features individuals with major memory deficiencies. Basic activities, such as bathing and dressing, may require some help. Memory loss may include trouble recalling major life events. This stage tends to last up to 18 months long.

Stage 6: Middle stage dementia, also known as stage 6, has individuals who need extensive help with daily activities. Forgetting big events, and family/friends’ names can be included in this stage. Anxiety, delusional beliefs, agitation and personality changes will be on display. Stage 6 can last 2.5 years.

Stage 7: Seniors will have no ability to communicate during late stage dementia. They will require 24/7 care at this stage in life. Typically, the final stage can last another 2.5 years long.

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Frontotemporal disorders (FTD), which can also be referred to as frontotemporal dementia, result from damage to neurons found in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Symptoms of frontotemporal dementia include emotional issues and unusual behaviors. Let’s take a look at the seven stages of this disease.

What Are The 7 Stages Of Frontotemporal Dementia?

Like most forms of dementia, frontotemporal dementia progresses slowly. Gradually, symptoms will worsen over time. This form of dementia often strikes early, affecting people aged forty to sixty, according to NIA.NIH.gov.

Stage 1. No Symptoms

During stage one, the individual will exhibit no symptoms whatsoever.

• At this point, the disease has not yet progressed enough to cause any visible symptoms.
• Patients often present themselves as normal and completely healthy.

Stage 2. Mild Symptoms

Most patients will feel mild symptoms during stage two of this disease. While most dementia patients experience memory issues as the first sign of the disease, this is not the case with frontotemporal dementia.

• These patients will experience slight changes in both personality and social interactions.
• Symptoms are very subtle at this point in time.
• It is possible for a diagnosis to be missed during this stage.
• If symptoms are noticed they could simply be chalked up as stress.

Stage 3. Cognitive Issues

Stage three is usually where some cognitive issues may be noticed by loved ones.

• These changes can include deterioration of social skills and language use.
• Typically, symptoms displayed during this stage are enough to alarm family members.
• Functional and working memory, as well as social skills begin to go.
• Obsessive behaviors, including binge eating, may occur at this stage.

Stage 4. Noticeable Symptoms

It will be clear at this point that there is something wrong with the individual. Previously unrecognized symptoms are now extremely obvious.

• The patient will have difficulty with normal interactions, overall.
• Language skills may regress, with the patient struggling to speak at times.
• A diagnosis made at this stage may be considered an ‘early onset’ diagnosis.
• This means some treatments could be provided to the patient, which may not work in later stages.

Stage 5. Full-Time Care Needed

Stage five is considered the mid-point of the disease’s progression. The patient will need medical intervention, as well as a caretaker some or all of the time.

• Social skills are very poor by this time.
• Language is also on a severe decline.
• Emotional non-reactivity is yet another symptom that is presented.
• This means the patient may not react appropriately in most situations.
• While the disease has progressed slowly until now, it begins to accelerate at this stage.

Stage 6. Severe Cognitive Issues

Severe cognitive issues, a decline in judgement, and loss of bodily control will occur in stage six.

• Another symptom is poor impulse control, which means patients should be monitored throughout the day and night.
• Speech issues can also pop up, with pronunciation problems persisting.
• Patients may attempt to go into complete isolation at this point.

Stage 7. Final Stage

This, of course, will be the most difficult stage for the individual and loved ones.

• Patients will become withdrawn and struggle with communication skills.
• They may refuse to cooperate in general and become very upset.
• Personal assistance will be needed for almost every task.
• Social skills, motor, and verbal abilities will disappear entirely.

Retirement Community In Surprise, AZ

Chaparral Winds is a beautiful assisted living community near Sun City, AZ. Being able to socialize with other residents becomes an integral part of many peoples’ lives and Chaparral Winds Assisted Living offers common indoor space to support that need. If a resident requires assistance moving from a bed to a wheelchair or vice versa, this facility has staff who can help.

Address: 16623 N W Point Pkwy, Surprise, AZ 85374

Phone: (623) 975-0880