19/05/2026
It can be helpful to think of dementia progressing in three stages.
This is a guide to some of the common symptoms at each stage, although it’s important to remember that everyone’s dementia journey is different.
Dementia is progressive. This means signs and symptoms may be relatively mild at first but they get worse with time.
Knowing a little about what to expect in each stage can help us understand how dementia changes over time and how to prepare for the future. The stages also act as a guide to when certain treatments, such as medicines for Alzheimer’s disease, are likely to work best.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell when a person’s dementia has progressed from one stage to another because some symptoms may appear in a different order to how we’ve presented them here, and the stages may overlap.
Some symptoms, particularly those linked to behaviours, may develop at one stage and then reduce or even disappear later on. Other symptoms, such as memory loss and problems with language and thinking, tend to stay and get worse with time.
As dementia progresses, a person will need more help and, at some point, will need a lot of support with daily living. However, how soon this happens and the type of support needed will vary from person to person.
It’s natural to want to know which stage a person is at or what might happen next. But the most important thing we can do is focus on the person in the present moment, to help them live well for as long as possible.
If you need more help or advice we’re here for you, just give our Dementia Support Line a call on 0333 150 3456.
