In a darkened Amsterdam conference hall this summer, a panel of industry and academic scientists took the stage to announce a plan to radically expand the definition of Alzheimer’s disease to include millions of people with no memory complaints. Those with normal cognition who test positive for elevated levels of certain proteins that have been tied to Alzheimer’s — but not proven to cause the disease — would be diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s Stage 1, the panel members explained.
Widera pointed out that under the revised plan, an unimpaired person who tests positive for an Alzheimer's biomarker would not be considered 'at risk' for the disease because — in the panel's view — they already have it. 'They are redefining what it means to have Alzheimer's,' he said. “You no longer need to have cognitive impairment to have this disease. You just need the positive blood test.