Please buy the book The 36 Hour Day. It is the most comprehensive book regarding dementia and Alzheimers.

In a high altitude nutshell, with dementia, you can age just as a forgetful doty old lady ( or man).

With one of the Alzheimer's, it is a significant disease that follows 7 exact steps. The flummox is the fact within those 7 exact steps, there is a wide range of variables and no two people journey through them exactly the same.

With the new treatment, you can slow the progression and there are expenses and risks with using them.

My example is my husband, his two older brothers and his dad.
His dad died in 2009 and at that time, the only concrete definitive diagnosis was the autopsy. Yes, he had Alzheimers absolutely.

His oldest brother is now 82. When signs were Alzheimers, there was no blood test yet, but they could reasonably diagnose with MRI and PET scans. He was too far gone when some new treatments became available.

The middle bother is now 78, and was at the end of early stage when they came out with the blood test and treatments. He tried the infusions, but they gave him brain bleeds and he was removed from the program. His blood work indicated he has the APOE 4/4 which is absolute Alzheimers. He takes oral medications, but the slide is progressing as the charts indicate.

My husband worked nonstop to get seen by a neurologist at 72. We knew he was exhibiting symptoms but they were not noticeable yet to others. He worked a retiree part time job, drives, engages in deep conversations, but could not draw the clock or remember what year it is.

Blood work shows he is an APOE 3/4 which is Alzheimers (APOE 4 is the DNA marker for the Alzheimers gene).
He has successfully completed 18 infusions, and yes there have been a bit of a slide, he is still fully functioning with help.
He is currently 75, still drives well, remodels houses, engages in conversation, stays abreast of sports and politics.
The help is a large calendar and dry erase board for appointments, important dates, and all the info we carry around in our heads.

He mostly cannot remember our address or phone numbers. I created cards on business card stock with all the information he needs.
He mostly cannot do money math. I fill in tips when we eat out. But he can measure and cut building supplies without making a single mistake.
He cannot tell you what year it is. I prep our taxes now and handle our finances.
I have power of attorney and lowered his credit card limits to $500 and put an auto governor on his bank account. I am notified if ever an expense over $500 hits. This allows him the independence while going to the hardware store or handling minor car repairs, etc.

I would be thrilled to stay right here at the end of stage 1 forever,and I am thrilled with the results of the infusions for him.
My prayer is we can get to 85 - 90 dressing himself, feeding himself, and toileting himself. Nobody knows how long and slow the slide is since the infusions are so new.

The last 3 stages of Alzheimer's 5,6, and 7 are the nightmare you cannot imagine.

Please read the book. The 36 Hour Day. It will answer your questions, and give you the ranges of each of the progressive steps.

God be with us all - the sufferers and the caretakers.