Brain & Nervous System Alzheimer's Dementia & Related Cognitive Disorders Dying From Dementia With Late-Stage Symptoms By Angela Morrow, RN linkedin Angela Morrow, RN, BSN, CHPN, is a certified hospice and palliative care nurse. Learn about our editorial process Angela Morrow, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD on June 02, 2020 linkedin Nicholas R. Metrus, MD, is board-certified in neurology and neuro-oncology. He currently works at the Glasser Brain Tumor Center with Atlantic Health System in Summit, New Jersey. Learn about our Medical Review Board Nicholas R. Metrus, MD on June 02, 2020 Print While the inevitable death of your loved one is a difficult concept to wrap your head around and accept, knowledge about the future and what to expect may help you prepare both logistically and emotionally when your loved one has late-stage dementia. Progression of Dementia A person with dementia will follow a fairly typical pattern of decline, although the pace at which this occurs will vary. For example, a person with Alzheimer's disease may initially experience difficulties remembering new information like names, events, or recent conversations. He may also exhibit signs of depression and apathy, as well as problems planning or completing usual tasks. As the disease progresses, a person often becomes confused and disoriented and has trouble communicating (both speaking and writing). Poor judgment and withdrawal from activities she once enjoyed are also common. It's important to note, though, that there are different types of dementia, and each type is linked to different patterns of symptoms based on the brain changes that occur, so symptoms may vary a bit early in the disease state. For example, people with Lewy body dementia may have some early symptoms similar to a person with Alzheimer's disease, like memory impairment, but are more likely to also have visual hallucinations, sleep problems, and a slow gait. On the contrary, memory problems are often not a problem in the early stages of frontotemporal dementia; instead, pronounced changes in personality and behavior are noted. Still, in the final stage of dementia, symptoms are quite similar across all types, as a person experiences a significant decline in everyday functioning. Verywell / Cindy Chung Late-Stage Dementia Eventually, your loved one will reach the late stage of dementia (also called end-stage dementia or advanced dementia) in which symptoms become severe. Most notably, a person will have problems with normal everyday functions like bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom. At this point, your loved one will be unable to walk or even sit up without assistance, so he or she will become bedbound and require around-the-clock care. They will also lose the ability to speak and experience a loss of facial expression, including the ability to smile. This can be particularly challenging for a loved one to witness. Symptoms in the Late Stages of Alzheimer's Disease How Dementia Causes Death With the impaired ability to move, a person in the late stage of dementia is at risk for a number of medical complications like an infection of the urinary tract and pneumonia (an infection of the lungs). Difficulty in swallowing, eating and drinking leads to weight loss, dehydration, and malnutrition, which further increases her vulnerability to infection. In the end, most people with late-stage dementia die of a medical complication related to their underlying dementia. For instance, a person may die from an infection like aspiration pneumonia, which occurs as a result of swallowing difficulties, or a person may die from a blood clot in the lung as a result of being immobile and bedbound. However, it's important to note that dementia itself is fatal. At times this is appropriately listed as the cause of death on a death certificate, as late-stage dementia is a terminal illness. While a person with end-stage dementia may technically die from an infection or other medical complication, it is their severe dementia that predisposed them to that complication and made them too weak to fight it off. A Word From Verywell While advanced dementia is incurable and will ultimately result in death, it's important to note that you can still provide comfort to your loved ones and play an active role in their care. Hospice care is available and highly encouraged for individuals with late-stage dementia and includes strategies like comfort feeding, assessing and easing the pain, mouth care, engaging in pleasurable activities like music or soothing touch, and managing uncomfortable symptoms. With this strategy, you are proactively providing love and support and nurturing your loved one without putting them through futile medical interventions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! When it comes to Alzheimer's, the MIND diet has shown promise in reducing risk and promoting brain health. Sign up for our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Newsletter and get your free recipe guide today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Schachter AS, Davis KL. Alzheimer's disease. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2000;2(2):91-100. Mckeith IG, Boeve BF, Dickson DW, et al. Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium. Neurology. 2017;89(1):88-100. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000004058 Young JJ, Lavakumar M, Tampi D, Balachandran S, Tampi RR. Frontotemporal dementia: latest evidence and clinical implications. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(1):33-48. doi:10.1177/2045125317739818 Kumar CS, Kuriakose JR. End-of-life care issues in advanced dementia. Ment Health Fam Med. 2013;10(3):129-32. Additional Reading Alzheimer's Association. "Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures." Alzheimer's Society, "Symptoms and memory in the later stages of dementia." Arcand M. Part 1: Goals of Care, Decision-Making Process, and Family Education. 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