The later stages of Alzheimer’s are characterized by greater confusion, disorientation and dependency on others. Physical health often begins to deteriorate as activity levels decline and more time is spent sitting around or lying in bed. People with Alzheimer’s disease can live anywhere from 2 to 20 years after diagnosis, but on average patients live about 7 years from the time of diagnosis.
Eventually, patients lose the ability to walk, go to the bathroom and feed themselves, eventually needing total care. Patients most commonly die from pneumonia, urinary tract infections and other problems related to their lack of function as a result of the disease.
