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What Stage in Dementia Is Paranoia?
Date Updated: December 23, 2024
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In the past year, Theresa has authored nearly one hundred pieces of content on senior living and healthcare, with a particular emphasis on memory care. She is dedicated to rigorous research, consistently sourcing authoritative material to bolster the credibility of her work. Her prolific writing career includes 29 children’s and teen books, 7 romance novels, and numerous short stories.
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Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
The stage in dementia that paranoia most commonly occurs is in the middle to late stages, particularly in Alzheimer's disease, when severe cognitive decline leads to major personality and behavioral changes. As mental function continues to deteriorate, individuals with dementia require full-time supervision and care.
Dementia and the Stages of the Global Deterioration Scale
Clinicians use various tests to assess individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, including the Global Deterioration Scale. The GDS is divided into seven stages:
- Stage 1: No cognitive decline – No memory loss or impairment
- Stage 2: Age-associated memory impairment – Very mild cognitive decline
- Stage 3: Mild cognitive impairment – Mild cognitive decline
- Stage 4: Mild dementia – Moderate cognitive decline
- Stage 5: Moderate dementia – Moderately severe cognitive decline
- Stage 6: Moderately severe dementia – Severe cognitive decline
- Stage 7: Severe dementia – Very severe cognitive decline
The standard classification for Alzheimer’s dementia consists of three stages: early-stage dementia, middle-stage dementia and late-stage dementia. Early-stage dementia corresponds to the first, second and third stages of the GDS, while middle-stage dementia corresponds to stages four, five and six. Late-stage dementia, or severe dementia, is akin to the seventh stage of the GDS.
Addressing Paranoia in a Loved One With Dementia
Paranoia tends to develop earlier in certain forms of dementia, such as Lewy body dementia and some cases of frontotemporal dementia. It’s often associated with memory loss and confusion, when the inability to remember certain things causes the individual to draw false conclusions.
Strategies to help you address a loved one’s paranoia:
- Listen with empathy and be patient.
- Allow them to express their thoughts and reassure them that you’re taking their concerns seriously.
- Avoid experiences and places that may trigger paranoid thoughts.
- Help them maintain a consistent daily routine for stability and predictability.
- Distract them from paranoid thoughts by redirecting their attention to a different activity.