This article is about whether people should be given tests that address their risk of getting Alzheimer's, and whether they should be told the results of the tests. And it's about physicians' views on the same topics.

There was a related discussion about a year ago on the local PBS radio station. The interviewee was Dave Iverson, who has Parkinson's Disease. His father had PD and his brother has PD. He was asked if he wanted to know whether he carried a genetic mutation associated with PD. He said he did not. He was willing to participate in research studies of his genetic profile but told researchers not to pass the results to him. I believe he also said that after he died, researchers could provide the info to his daughter, if she wanted to know.

There are obviously many viewpoints on these topics. Presumably medical ethicists will need to advise medical centers on how to proceed.

Robin



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/health/18moral.html

THE VANISHING MIND
Tests Detect Alzheimer’s Risks, but Should Patients Be Told?
By Gina Kolata
New York Times
December 17, 2010

People should think long and hard about getting this kind of information. Information such as this, just as the gene for breast cancer, may play havoc with your ability to get long term health care insurance, plain old medical insurance, and even life insurance. And having the tests paid for out of pocket and the results given to you privately may still not be enough. If a person develops a dementia and knew about a genetic predisposition, and didn't disclose it under "other illnesses" or some such thing, they may find find themselves sued by the insurance conpany. Just a thought. Nan

Some knowledge can't be avoided: having a parent with dementia, increases one's own risk of developing dementia. I imagine the same is true for some types of cancer.

I'm with Dave Iverson, I would not want to know. Bernie

After going through dementia with my husband, I'd want to know at my age (52) so that I can plan for my care and not put it all on my daughter. Of course I'd want to have all those insurances in place first. I would NOT, however, want my daughter to be able to find out if she is predisposed. She's only 26 and has a lifetime in front of her and I'd hate that knowledge to be ever-looming over her. She has watched her dad develop Lewy at the same time she watched her grandma develop Alzheimer's these past few years so she's already feeling that her chances of developing a dementia are greater than most, I'd hate to confirm that for anyone. Huge issue, huh? I'm wondering if we won't evolve into mandatory testing prior to qualifying for health or life insurance someday?

Sher,
I think you bring a valid idea here with possible testing in the future for dementia's, with our population living longer, I thought of this last night and wondered the same thing, who ever realized yr's ago we would all be tested for AIDS to get health and Life insurance !

I can visualize a Brave New World where a person's medical profile dictates most legal, financial and career situations. And when I read the novel [in my teens, I believe] genetic profiling was only on the drawing board and I saw the story as more metaphorical than literal. No more.