Alzheimer's Association publishes revised diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease
New criteria define Alzheimer's as a biological process with disease-related changes in the brain before memory and thinking problems emerge
Updated biomarker classification system aims to improve early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease
CHICAGO and ROCHESTER, Minn., July 1, 2024 – In a significant development for the diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Association has published revised criteria based on the latest research. The new criteria define Alzheimer's as a biological process that begins with the appearance of disease-related changes in the brain before memory and thinking problems emerge. These updated diagnostic and staging criteria were published online by Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.
The new criteria, which include an updated biomarker classification system, aim to improve early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. According to Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer at the Alzheimer's Association:
Alzheimer's Association has published new diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease.
People could be diagnosed with Alzheimer's based on a blood test alone, even without memory difficulties.
Biology should be basis of diagnosis rather than symptoms.
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The article by Brenda Goodman contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on the new Alzheimer's Association diagnostic criteria that call for doctors to rely on biomarkers rather than symptoms for diagnosis. She presents this change as a progress in catching the condition in its earliest stages but fails to mention potential drawbacks, such as people being diagnosed based on a blood test alone without memory difficulties or the lack of research supporting the idea that giving expensive, risky injected medications before symptoms appear will benefit them in the long run. The author also uses emotional language like 'pricey Alzheimer's disease treatment' and 'risky injected medications'. These tactics are used to manipulate readers' emotions and create a sense of urgency.
But the criteria have been criticized by outside experts and drug industry watchdog groups who point out that people can have beta amyloid proteins in their brains and blood without ever developing dementia symptoms.
The idea behind the change, the authors say, is to catch the condition in its earliest and most treatable stages, even before symptoms develop.
There's still debate about the role of beta amyloid in the disease, however, and some experts contend that plaques are a consequence of the condition rather than its cause.
risks and benefits of early diagnosis In clinical trials, the new drugs – which are antibodies that recognize and grab onto pieces of beta amyloid to remove them from the brain – showed modest benefits.
A workgroup convened by the Alzheimer’s Association has published revised criteria for the diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer’s disease based on the biology of the disease.
The new criteria define Alzheimer’s disease as a biological process that begins with the appearance of Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain before people exhibit memory and thinking problems.
The clinical use of biomarkers is presently intended for the evaluation of symptomatic individuals, not cognitively unimpaired individuals. At the present time, disease-targeted therapies have not been approved for cognitively unimpaired individuals.
New drugs, which are antibodies that recognize and grab onto pieces of beta amyloid to remove them from the brain, showed modest benefits in clinical trials.
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The author expresses a neutral tone towards the new Alzheimer's criteria but includes quotes from outside experts and drug industry watchdog groups who criticize the new criteria as potentially profit-driven and lacking research to support early diagnosis. The author does not take a definitive stance on the issue, but by including these criticisms, they may be inadvertently implying bias against the new criteria.
However, it also means people could be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s based on a blood test alone, even if they don’t have any memory difficulties.
They also point out that there’s no research to support the idea that giving a person expensive, risky injected medications before they show symptoms will benefit them in the long run.
