This article provides recommendations for the diagnosis of cognitive in the elderly. An algorithm for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment, including four stages (clinical psychopathological, express psycho-diagnostic, clinical psycho-diagnostic, instrumental), which can be used to identify elderly patients with preclinical forms of cognitive impairment and implementation of primary and secondary prevention efforts is presented; determination of the degree of cognitive impairment (mild, moderate, severe) in the elderly can recommend the future directions of medical and rehabilitation care. Recommendations can be used to provide guidance to general practitioners.