The paper by Knopman et al. evaluates the utility of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m) in identifying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, particularly in older populations with high prevalence rates. The study suggests that while TICS-m has limited value in distinguishing between Alzheimer's disease (AD), MCI, and normal cognition, it may be somewhat better at separating dementia from MCI and normal. However, the sensitivity and specificity of TICS-m are not sufficient to accurately diagnose early-stage MCI or dementia, leading to potential biases in prevalence estimates and incidence measurements. The authors highlight the importance of careful consideration of screening cut points and the need for further validation using imaging techniques and detailed clinical evaluations. They also emphasize the potential impact of treatment on survival and disability, which can affect the reliability of screening instruments in clinical trials. Overall, the paper underscores the need for high-quality evaluation methods to accurately diagnose dementia and its risk factors.The paper by Knopman et al. evaluates the utility of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m) in identifying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, particularly in older populations with high prevalence rates. The study suggests that while TICS-m has limited value in distinguishing between Alzheimer's disease (AD), MCI, and normal cognition, it may be somewhat better at separating dementia from MCI and normal. However, the sensitivity and specificity of TICS-m are not sufficient to accurately diagnose early-stage MCI or dementia, leading to potential biases in prevalence estimates and incidence measurements. The authors highlight the importance of careful consideration of screening cut points and the need for further validation using imaging techniques and detailed clinical evaluations. They also emphasize the potential impact of treatment on survival and disability, which can affect the reliability of screening instruments in clinical trials. Overall, the paper underscores the need for high-quality evaluation methods to accurately diagnose dementia and its risk factors.