You may see some changes in how your patients with cognitive impairment are diagnosed, based on updated diagnostic guidelines about Alzheimer's funded by the National Institutes of Health. The original diagnostic criteria issued in 1984 addressed only the late stages of the disease involving dementia, the NIH notes in a release. The new guidelines identify three stages of the disease -- preclinical, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's dementia. More information is at the NIH National Institute on Aging website at www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers.