Final answer:
Liz in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease is likely experiencing severe memory loss, confusion, inability to perform tasks, personality changes, and loss of bodily function control. Late-stage symptoms are associated with significant brain damage, including the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. She will likely require full-time care due to the complete dependency caused by her condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Liz, who has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the past 6 years and is now in the late stages of the disease, is most likely experiencing some severe symptoms. These symptoms include disruptive memory loss, significant confusion about time or place, severe difficulty in planning or executing tasks, and major personality changes. As Alzheimer's progresses, patients like Liz could also expect to lose the ability to recognize family or friends, experience major communication issues, and eventually become completely dependent on others for their daily care. Along with these symptoms, individuals in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease often struggle with basic bodily functions like swallowing and bladder or bowel control.
The late stages of Alzheimer's disease are marked by increasing damage to the brain, which causes corresponding deficits in functioning. Signs such as neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid plaques, and significant shrinking of brain volume, particularly in the hippocampus, are common findings in severe Alzheimer's cases. In this advanced stage, patients usually cannot communicate effectively and may not even be aware of their surroundings or who is with them.