title: Clinical implications of the new diagnostic guidelines for dementia.
abstract: New criteria have been proposed for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. These emphasize that this illness exists on a continuum and begins early on. This article reviews the pros and cons of these criteria. It also provides practical guidelines for psychiatrists whose patients may be affected by these new criteria. Particular attention is given to patients who, as opposed to their wanting to know whether they are likely to have AD, want to deny this possibility.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Howe is Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Director, Programs in Medical Ethics, and Senior Scientist, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Howe
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; behavior; biomarkers; capacity; dementia; denial; diagnostic guidelines; independence; memory; mild cognitive impairment; neurofibrillary tangles; plaques