07.16.10 NIA and Alzheimer's Association Lead Effort Considering Updates to Clinical Research and Diagnostic Criteria
Scientists unveiled draft proposals this week from three workgroups convened by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Alzheimer's Association to update clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and research criteria for pre-AD and the use of biomarkers in MCI.
Leaders of the three workgroups – which covered Alzheimer's disease dementia, MCI due to Alzheimer's disease, and preclinical Alzheimer's disease – presented preliminary reports at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 (AAICAD 2010) in Honolulu.
NIA and the Association are now seeking comment from the larger Alzheimer’s community on the proposals. To view and comment on the draft criteria, go to: http://www.alz.org/research/diagnostic_criteria/.
"Important scientific discoveries have been made in Alzheimer's, and there have been significant changes in our knowledge and conception of the disease," said Creighton H. Phelps, Ph.D., Director of the Alzheimer's Disease Centers Program, Division of Neuroscience, NIA. "The NIA and the Alzheimer's Association, after consultation with the Alzheimer's scientific and medical community, concluded that the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease may need to be revised to incorporate scientific advances. For preclinical Alzheimer’s and MCI, more research is needed to determine what value various biomarkers have in determining who will and will not develop Alzheimer’s before making further revisions to the diagnostic criteria.”
"The proposals would change the 1984 criteria by better reflecting the various stages of the disease and the inclusion of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers," said William Thies, Ph.D., Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer's Association. "While the role of biomarkers differs in each of the three stages, much remains to be understood concerning their reliability and validity in diagnosis. This makes it critical that we thoroughly test any new recommendations."
For additional background information, see:
Alzheimer’s Association Press release
Workgroup panel Q&A 1 (video)
Workgroup panel Q&A 2 (video)
Leaders of the three workgroups – which covered Alzheimer's disease dementia, MCI due to Alzheimer's disease, and preclinical Alzheimer's disease – presented preliminary reports at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 (AAICAD 2010) in Honolulu.
NIA and the Association are now seeking comment from the larger Alzheimer’s community on the proposals. To view and comment on the draft criteria, go to: http://www.alz.org/research/diagnostic_criteria/.
"Important scientific discoveries have been made in Alzheimer's, and there have been significant changes in our knowledge and conception of the disease," said Creighton H. Phelps, Ph.D., Director of the Alzheimer's Disease Centers Program, Division of Neuroscience, NIA. "The NIA and the Alzheimer's Association, after consultation with the Alzheimer's scientific and medical community, concluded that the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease may need to be revised to incorporate scientific advances. For preclinical Alzheimer’s and MCI, more research is needed to determine what value various biomarkers have in determining who will and will not develop Alzheimer’s before making further revisions to the diagnostic criteria.”
"The proposals would change the 1984 criteria by better reflecting the various stages of the disease and the inclusion of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers," said William Thies, Ph.D., Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer's Association. "While the role of biomarkers differs in each of the three stages, much remains to be understood concerning their reliability and validity in diagnosis. This makes it critical that we thoroughly test any new recommendations."
For additional background information, see:
Alzheimer’s Association Press release
Workgroup panel Q&A 1 (video)
Workgroup panel Q&A 2 (video)
