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Well, it is certainly can be evidence of the progression of the disease. Whether it is "rapid" or not depends, I guess, on how quickly this new state of affairs appeared. Some people decline very rapidly and others take years to gradually arrive at the same state.

Sometimes something other than the progression of the disease can cause sudden severe symptoms. A person with dementia who gets a UTI, for example, may exhibit new symptoms or their existing symptoms with greater intensity. This returns to baseline once the infection is cleared up.

When there are sudden changes to symptoms, it is also a good idea to discuss them with the doctor who is following the dementia.
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People with dementia have "Good Days" where they make sense and they understand what is going on around them and they have "Bad Days" where they are not living in reality and nothing they say makes sense and nothing you do can redirect them or help them understand reality. Have you talked with the nurses at the assisted living facility where this person is residing? What do they say?

As Jeanne pointed out, there can be other reasons for sudden onset of severe symptoms and she mentioned UTI as an example. Other causes can be respiratory infections (colds, flus, pneumonia) or gastrointestinal flu; a TIA or mini-stroke; changes in medications; changes in daily routine; a new resident into the Memory Care Unit; etc.

Talk to the nurses at the assisted living facility and ask that this person see a doctor to determine the exact cause of the new or more severe symptoms.
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