<s>[INST] Hi, Dr. Grief.... My Father-in-law has Alzheimers Disease. I feel he is in the 7th stage. How do you know when the time comes? Just so confused, he s really pitiful, he can still walk, but knows no one and now has just about stopped eating. I take care of him and my Mother-in-law. I am all they have and I believe shes having difficulty too. [/INST] Hello! Welcome and thank you for asking on Chat Doctor ! I understand your concern and would explain that there is not a specific time for this stage of the disease. The prognosis is based on individual characteristics and comorbidities. If there is enough medical care, it may take some years up to death. But if he stops eating the situation may aggravate in some months. For this reason, I recommend consulting with a psychiatrist to help his with his appetite and apathy. He may be at depression or hallucinations may be the reason why he has stopped eating. In such case an antidepressant or anti-psychotic could improve the situation. Hope to have been helpful to you!  </s>