Incompetence: update on the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are devastating conditions that exact enormous costs and burdens on their victims, families and society. Recent advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease are very encouraging. However, the newer medications for Alzheimer's disease are effective only in early and moderate stages of the disease. Consequently, this demands early recognition and diagnosis of AD. The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and a recent consensus panel of experts have published guidelines that enable primary care physicians to accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease and other dementias without the need to refer the patients to specialists, or for expensive testing, in most instances. This, then, will allow the early treatment and management of dementia in a cost efficient manner.