New Clinical Practice Guideline Sets Framework For Evaluating, Testing & Counseling About Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia In Primary Care

A new clinical practice guideline recommends that primary care professionals use a three-step diagnostic process to assess Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in people who may have cognitive impairment. The process includes an assessment and summary of the person’s overall level of cognitive impairment, a summary of symptoms the person is experiencing (such as language difficulty and memory loss with depression), and consideration of the likely condition causing the symptoms. The guideline was developed to ease barriers to timely and accurate diagnosis so that the person and family are empowered and have the greatest autonomy to . . .