There are, generally speaking, 3 stages of Alzheimer's:
<http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp>
My mom is in the late middle stage. We're living longer. More of us will be experiencing this with our loved ones. Here are some facts from a 2012 report:
•One in eight people age 65 and older (13 percent) has Alzheimer’s disease.
•Nearly half of people age 85 and older (45 percent) have Alzheimer’s disease.
•Of those with Alzheimer’s disease, an estimated 4 percent are under age 65, 6 percent are 65 to 74, 44 percent are 75 to 84, and 46 percent are 85 or older.
<http://www.alz.org/downloads/facts_figures_2012.pdf>