A couple weeks ago, I read some very promising news—for the first time in 27 years, a new set of criteria and guidelines for diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease was released in April. These new guidelines reflect the latest recent research and findings, the most exciting of which is that scientists now recognize two new phases of the disease.

These new phases, preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease, along with the third phase, which is dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease, mirror research that has shown that the onset of Alzheimer’s begins many years before more symptoms become apparent. By recognizing these early phases, doctors can start to provide effective treatment before outward signs of the disease are visible.

Based on preliminary research, early stages of the disease will be detected by certain biological changes (biomarkers) that will be apparent before any symptoms of the disease begin to manifest. Though researchers don’t completely understand how the process will work yet, the guidelines set forth a plan based on research that’s already been done.

These guidelines signify another step on the road to discovering a cure or new treatments methods for this deadly disease, and I hope that their release results in further research that eventually leads to a more effective treatment and a cure. With continued dementia care training and the hard work of researchers and scientists, we will fight this disease together to ensure long, healthy lives for generations to come.

You can read more about the new guidelines on the Alzheimer’s Association website.