July 16 (Reuters) - Alzheimer's disease experts are revamping the way doctors diagnose patients with the progressive brain disorder - the most common type of dementia - adopting a seven-point rating scale based on cognitive and biological changes in the patient. "Stage 1a is really the beginning of evidence that someone has the disease," Jack said. The new scale also includes a Stage 0 for people who carry genes that guarantee they will develop Alzheimer's. Noting the new system's similarity to cancer stages, Jack said, "There's no such thing as mild breast cancer. Jack also noted that many other conditions can cause dementia but not all dementia is Alzheimer's disease.

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Persons: Clifford Jack, Eli Lilly's, Maria Carrillo, Jack, Julie Steenhuysen, Will Dunham Organizations: Alzheimer's Association, Mayo Clinic, National Institute of Aging, government's National Institutes of Health, Drug Administration, FDA, Down, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Rochester , Minnesota, Chicago