FAST scale · stage 1 of 7
Stage 1 dementia: no noticeable change
Daily life is unchanged, and neither you nor they notice anything.
What daily life looks like
Nothing about memory or everyday function is different from how it has always been. The person manages work, money, travel and the household as they always did, and nobody around them has noticed a change.
What typically changes next
Most people never move along this scale at all. If anything does change, it is usually small lapses the person notices themselves before anyone else does.
What helps caregivers at this stage
- Keep normal routines; there is nothing to manage yet.
- If the person is worried about their memory, a GP or primary-care visit is the right first step.
When to talk to a clinician
A sudden change, over days rather than months, is not a stage change. Confusion that appears quickly, new agitation, a fall or a change in eating or continence can be an infection, pain, a medication effect or dehydration, and those are treated. Bring your log and the date you last filled in the checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is stage 1 dementia?
On the seven-stage FAST scale, stage 1 (no noticeable change) means: Daily life is unchanged, and neither you nor they notice anything.
How long does stage 1 dementia last?
The published scale does not give a typical duration for stage 1; many people at this point never progress further, and others move on over years.
What comes after stage 1?
Most people never move along this scale at all. If anything does change, it is usually small lapses the person notices themselves before anyone else does.
Keep it over time in Anchorly
Anchorly keeps the monthly stage check-in next to the daily log, the sundowning tracker and the life story, and puts the latest stage on the one-page care snapshot for the care team.
Free, no account, works offline. Your loved one's information stays on the phone.
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