New guidelines allow definition of pre-Alzheimer's

The emphasis on the need to diagnose Alzeheimer's during its earliest stages is also evident in Congress, where legislation introduced this month would create new, specific Medicare cost codes for early-disease diagnosis to address these steps, including the discussions between the physician and caregivers.

The New York Times: Guidelines Allow Earlier Definition Of Alzeheimer's
The drive to diagnose Alzheimer's before it has progressed into profound dementia is also reflected in a bill introduced in Congress this month, which would create specific Medicare cost codes for Alzheimer's diagnosis, including steps involving discussions between the patient's doctor and caregivers, a recognition that keeping family members well-informed can result in better planning and care (Belluck, 4/19).

The Associated Press: New Guidelines Define Pre-Alzheimer's Disease
The first new guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in nearly 30 years establish earlier stages of the mind-robbing disease, paving the way for spotting and possibly treating these conditions much sooner than they are now. The change reflects a modern view that Alzheimer's is a spectrum of mental decline, with damage that can start many years before symptoms appear. The new guidance describes three phases: early brain changes, mild cognitive impairment and full-blown Alzheimer's (Marchione, 4/19).

Chicago Sun Times: New Guidelines For Identifying Alzheimer's Before Symptoms Occur
Medical experts have issued new guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease that, for the first time, attempt to identify the hallmarks of the disease before symptoms occur. The original guidelines, published in 1984, dealt only with diagnosing Alzheimer's once a person started showing signs of dementia. Since then, new discoveries have shown the disease can cause changes in the brain a decade or more before symptoms appear (Thomas, 4/19).