Proposed New Diagnostic Criteria for Alzheimer’s Disease Unveiled at AAIC 2023

AMSTERDAM, JULY 16, 2023 — A draft proposal for new Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic criteria was presented to attendees of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference^® (AAIC^®) 2023, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and online. They are a revision of the 2018 National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association (NIA-AA) Alzheimer’s research framework and will be available for public comment for 30 days on the Alzheimer's Association AAIC website.

“Care has to evolve with the science,” said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer. “Our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease has advanced, in particular our understanding of biomarkers, and this needs to be reflected in how we describe and diagnose the disease.”

“We look forward to input from the scientific and clinical community on these proposed revisions,” Carrillo said. “The Alzheimer’s Association is proud to lead this important effort, which will ultimately enable people to get a more accurate diagnosis earlier, as well as help those diagnosed enroll in research trials and, if appropriate, get access to approved treatments.”

Early diagnosis helps people understand the cause of their cognitive challenges so they can make informed decisions about how they want to manage their lives. Evidence-based diagnostic criteria also help doctors better determine if their patients do or do not have Alzheimer’s, so they can be diagnosed and treated appropriately.

New to the draft revision is the incorporation of blood-based biomarkers, which have shown tremendous promise and performance in the ability to detect Alzheimer’s disease. Their ease of use and low cost allow them to be accessible to a wide variety of people, including underserved and rural populations.

Importantly, some of the biomarkers described in the proposal have not yet been extensively tested in broadly representative populations and further analysis in these groups is urgently needed. The need for more representative cohorts is a cornerstone position of the Alzheimer’s Association, and has been highlighted by the workgroup that developed these proposed diagnostic criteria.

About the Alzheimer's Association International Conference^® (AAIC^®)
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world’s largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer’s and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community.
Alzheimer’s Association: alz.org
AAIC 2023: alz.org/aaic
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About the Alzheimer's Association^®
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call +1 800.272.3900.

Media Contacts: 
Alzheimer’s Association Media Line, +1 312.335.4078, media@alz.org
AAIC 2023 Press Office, aaicmedia@alz.org