Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Published on Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (https://www.j-alz.com)

Home > The Emergence of a New Conceptual Framework for Alzheimer's Disease.

TitleThe Emergence of a New Conceptual Framework for Alzheimer's Disease.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsDubois, B
JournalJ Alzheimers Dis
Volume62
Issue3
Pagination1059-1066
Date Published2018
ISSN1875-8908
Abstract

The New Criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), published by a group of experts in 2007, have resulted in a revolution in the comprehension of the disease. Before 2007, the diagnosis of AD dementia was done through a process of exclusion: it was considered in the case of patients with a dementia syndrome without identified etiologies. This traditional algorithm had three major limitations that penalize the disease: 1) a low accuracy of the performance which may share responsibility for negative results in clinical trials; 2) a late identification of the patients only when they reach the threshold of dementia which may delay the activation of optimal care; and last but not least, 3) an absence of clear recognition of AD as a disease because of the lack of specific arguments for its identification. Since 2007, the disease has gained a clear definition based on positive evidence: a specific clinical phenotype (the amnestic syndrome of the hippocampal type) and the presence of biomarkers, considered as a biological signature of the disease. Thanks to these positive arguments, AD is a clinically and biologically well-delineated disease, no longer defined as "probable". It is now possible to certify that a given patient has or does not have the disease. Like diabetes, cancer, hyperthyroidism or any other disorder, AD has now a clear definition with well-defined borders. The disease has entered the world of medicine with identified diseases with a biological fingerprint. This is the story of this adventure that we will present now.

DOI10.3233/JAD-170536
Alternate JournalJ. Alzheimers Dis.
PubMed ID29036825
PubMed Central IDPMC5870001
E-mail Icon
Comment Icon
  • Comment
Bookmark Icon Bookmark Recommend Icon Recommend Follow Icon Follow
  • Comment
| Bookmark | Recommend | Follow

Source URL: https://www.j-alz.com/content/emergence-new-conceptual-framework-alzheimers-disease