Stages of Alzheimer's Disease: Understanding Functional Loss and Care Over Time

Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease: Understanding Functional Loss and Care Over Time

In this video, PA Klingler explains the clinical staging of Alzheimer’s disease and how understanding these stages enables PAs to align care plans, interventions, and referrals with patients’ changing needs. She introduces the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2024 staging guidelines and simplifies the seven-stage clinical model into three clear categories: mild, moderate, and severe dementia.

Key Takeaways:

Alzheimer’s disease is divided into 6 stages. Patients have specific needs in each stage.
Earlier stages provide opportunities for pharmacological intervention.
Later stages become increasingly difficult for care partners.

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Speaker

Click on the photo below to learn more about the speaker.

Amy M. Klingler, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA

References and Additional Resources:

Alzheimer’s stages: How the disease progresses. Mayo Clinic. Accessed July 23, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers-stages/art-20048448

Jack CR Jr, Andrews JS, Beach TG, et al. Revised criteria for diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s Association Workgroup. Alzheimers Dement. 2024;20(8):5143-5169. doi:10.1002/alz.13859

Supported by

Amy M. Klingler, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA

Amy M. Klingler, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA, is a family medicine/urgent care PA at the Salmon River Clinic in Stanley, Idaho where she has worked for the past 19 years. She received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Pacific University in 2003. She received the Idaho Academy of Physician Assistants’ award for Physician Assistant of the Year in 2012 and was profiled by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants for contributions in rural medicine in May 2017. Amy believes that working in family medicine allows her to integrate the physical, mental, and social well-being of her patients which allows her to foster strong PA-patient relationships.