A Lancet Neurology Editorial published this month reviews the recent publication of the Revised Criteria for diagnosis and staging Alzheimer’s disease, developed by the Alzheimer’s Association for use in research settings.

These revised criteria represent a recent shift in the paradigm used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in the context of research studies. 

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can now be made based on biomarker data alone, even if the patient does not exhibit clinical symptoms.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be made if individuals exhibit abnormalities in “core 1 biomarkers”, including an amyloid pathology as determined by a PET scan and evidence of amyloid beta pathology in either cerebrospinal fluid or plasma, even in the absence of clinical symptoms. 

Whilst these criteria are not in routine clinical practice in the UK, they aim to bridge the gap between clinical practice and research with disease modifying drugs on the horizon they make early diagnosis before symptoms develop imperative.