The definition of Alzheimer's disease is being updated and reformed in new medical guidelines that reflect fast-mounting evidence that the disease begins damaging the brain well before, perhaps years before, the symptoms begin to become apparent.
The new guidelines by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association, divide the disease into three stages, listed here in reverse in time:
1. A phase when dementia has developed;
2. A phase in which mild problems emerge but daily functions can still be performed; and
3. A phase, most recently discovered, in which there are no symptoms but changes are brewing in the brain.
Early diagnosis may become more prevelant and Medicare regulations may be updated to reflect the need for earlier discovery and intervention which hopefully can result in better planning and care. Edward Markey, Representative from Massachusetts has sponsored a bill to increase medicare reimbursement for such diagnosis.
For a more thorough review, please see the full article in the NY Times.
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