Understanding the 7 Stages of Alzheimer's Disease: A Technical Guide for Care Planning

Tags: healthcare , caregiving , mentalhealth , beginners Alzheimer's disease follows a recognized progression framework that, when understood systematically, becomes a practical tool for care coordination, resource planning, and decision-making. Whether you're a developer building care management tools, a healthcare professional, or a family member trying to make sense of a complex diagnosis, this breakdown of the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) offers a structured mental model for navigating Alzheimer's progression. This guide is adapted from Signature Care's complete resource on Alzheimer's stages , a Montreal-based home care provider working with families navigating exactly these challenges. The Framework: Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) Developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg, the GDS maps Alzheimer's progression into 7 discrete stages. Think of it as a state machine — each stage represents a distinct configuration of cognitive and functional capacity, with predictable (though not perfec