ACC Understanding Alzheimer's Disease Stages 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During which stage of Alzheimer's does a person typically first lose the ability to live independently?
- Preclinical stage
- Mild cognitive impairment stage
- Moderate (middle) stage (Correct answer)
- Mild (early) stage
Correct answer: Moderate (middle) stage
In the moderate (middle) stage, memory and cognitive losses become severe enough that the person can no longer manage daily life without assistance.
Question 2: A person with mild-stage Alzheimer's is most likely to have difficulty with which of the following?
- Recognizing close family members
- Managing complex finances and planning (Correct answer)
- Swallowing food safely
- Controlling bladder and bowel function
Correct answer: Managing complex finances and planning
Mild-stage Alzheimer's typically affects higher-order executive functions like managing finances, planning, and problem-solving first.
Question 3: What term describes the stage of Alzheimer's disease where brain changes are occurring but no symptoms are yet present?
- Prodromal stage
- Subclinical stage
- Preclinical stage (Correct answer)
- Latent dementia
Correct answer: Preclinical stage
The preclinical stage refers to the period when Alzheimer's-related brain changes (amyloid plaques, tau tangles) are developing but the person shows no cognitive symptoms.
Question 4: Which behavioral change is MOST characteristic of the moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease?
- Subtle memory lapses noticed only by close family
- Wandering, agitation, and suspiciousness (Correct answer)
- Complete loss of verbal communication
- Inability to recognize one's own reflection
Correct answer: Wandering, agitation, and suspiciousness
Wandering, agitation, paranoia, and suspiciousness are hallmark behavioral symptoms that emerge during the moderate stage of Alzheimer's.
Question 5: In the severe (late) stage of Alzheimer's disease, which physical ability is typically lost LAST?
- Bladder control
- Ability to walk independently
- Ability to speak in sentences
- Ability to smile or make eye contact (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ability to smile or make eye contact
Even in late-stage Alzheimer's, some individuals retain the ability to smile and make brief eye contact, which are among the last remaining communication abilities.
Question 6: A caregiver notices their loved one can no longer remember the current year but still recognizes family members. Which stage does this BEST represent?
- Preclinical
- Mild (early)
- Moderate (middle) (Correct answer)
- Severe (late)
Correct answer: Moderate (middle)
Forgetting the year while still recognizing family members is consistent with moderate-stage Alzheimer's, where recent and factual memory declines before personal recognition.
Question 7: The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) used to stage Alzheimer's disease has how many levels?
- 3
- 5
- 7 (Correct answer)
- 10
Correct answer: 7
The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg, uses 7 levels to describe the stages of cognitive decline from normal aging through severe Alzheimer's.
ACC Understanding Alzheimer's Disease Stages 2
During which stage of Alzheimer's does a person typically first lose the ability to live independently?