10 A guide to understanding dementia The 7 stages of dementia Care Quality Commission Normal behaviour No symptoms are apparent, though changes in the brain might already be occurring – these can happen several years before symptoms emerge. 1 Forgetfulness They forget things easily and constantly lose things around the house, although not to the point where the memory loss can easily be distinguished from normal age related memory. 2 Mild Decline Loved ones may begin to notice subtle changes and signs that something ‘isn’t quite right.’ They might be frequently losing their purse, or keys or forgetting appointments. Experts believe this stage can last up to seven years. 3 Moderate Decline Symptoms become clearer to everyone. They find it difficult to manage money or pay bills, or remember what they had for breakfast. If they visit their doctor at this point, and undergo a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) it’s likely they will be diagnosed with dementia. The average length of this stage is around two years. 4