While the average life expectancy after an Alzheimer's diagnosis is typically 4 to 8 years, some individuals have lived for as long as 20 years or more with the disease, meaning a 30-year span, while rare, is a possibility.
Middle-stage Alzheimer's (moderate)
Middle-stage Alzheimer's is typically the longest stage and can last for many years. As the disease progresses, the person with Alzheimer's will require a greater level of care. During the middle stage of Alzheimer's, the dementia symptoms are more pronounced.
The rate of progression for Alzheimer's disease varies widely. On average, people with Alzheimer's disease live between three and 11 years after diagnosis. But some live 20 years or more.
Early symptoms
However, people with Alzheimer's don't need a special class to be able to enjoy memories sparked by music. You could play some recorded music for them or even suggest that they sing along with you. You could also buy a simplified music player designed for people with dementia.
At first, Alzheimer's usually damages the connections among neurons in parts of the brain involved in memory, including the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus.
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.
You Miss Out on Sleep
You do a few things you know you shouldn't -- we all do. But some of those bad habits can take a toll on your brain. For example, lack of sleep may be a cause of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. It's best to have regular sleeping hours.
Overall, know that Alzheimer's disease is a specific disease, while dementia is a general term for a group of similar diseases, of which Alzheimer's is one. In other words, every case of Alzheimer's disease is an example of dementia, but not every type of dementia is Alzheimer's.
Injuries from falls are common. Difficulty in swallowing makes eating and drinking an ongoing challenge, and can lead to weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration. The most common cause of death among Alzheimer's patients is aspiration pneumonia.
Create a comforting home setting by reducing noise and clutter and keeping well-loved objects (such as photos) around the home. Try to keep the person to a routine by bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day. Find ways for the person to be physically active, which can improve mood and sleep.
You may want to tell others about the diagnosis as soon as you get it. Or you may want to wait until you have had time to come to terms with your diagnosis.
Age When Diagnosis is Determined
For example, an average person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease between ages 70-79 can expect to survive seven more years, while a diagnosis after age 90 is associated with an expected survival of only 2.8 additional years.
Aggression in the later stage of dementia is often a reaction to personal care. Someone may hit or push away those trying to help them or shout out to be left alone. The person with dementia may have felt scared, threatened or confused. Restlessness is also very common.
Family history. The genes you inherit from your parents can contribute to your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, although the actual increase in risk is small. But in a few families, Alzheimer's disease is caused by the inheritance of a single gene and the risks of the condition being passed on are much higher.
But Romano says it's a leap to say that skipping breakfast actually causes dementia. “Alzheimer's disease is a complex brain illness,” he says. “Although the study found these correlations between skipping breakfast and dementia, skipping breakfast might be an indicator of other health habits or life circumstances.”
The cause of roughly 70% of all dementia cases is Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, leading to memory loss and impaired thinking that interferes with daily life, making it the most common form of dementia.
Abstract. Loss of memory is among the first symptoms reported by patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and by their caretakers. Working memory and long-term declarative memory are affected early during the course of the disease.
Many people with Alzheimer's continue to live successfully on their own during the early stage of the disease. Making simple adjustments, taking safety precautions and having the support of others can make things easier.
The "2-finger test" for dementia involves an examiner showing a hand gesture (like interlocking index and middle fingers) and asking the patient to copy it, testing motor skills, visual memory, and coordination, as difficulties can signal early cognitive decline, but it's a screening tool, not a definitive diagnosis, prompting further medical evaluation. Other related tests include finger-tapping and finger-to-nose, looking for hesitation or misjudgment in movement.
Many other complex brain changes are thought to play a role in Alzheimer's as well. The damage initially appears to take place in the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex, which are parts of the brain that are essential in forming memories.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause or type of dementia, accounting for the majority of cases. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory and cognitive functions.
In May 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first blood test as a tool to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease. The test is called Lumipulse.