Gene Testing

Bob DeMarco with Alzheimer’s Reading Room writes his opinion on Alzheimer’s Gene Testing. DeMarco gets emails fairly frequently asking about Gene Testing, and if their symptoms indicate that they should get tested. Forty percent of people who have late onset Alzheimer’s have the gene. This test is fairly expensive, and there are considerations to think on before deciding to take a test.

Blood tests are available that can identify which APOE alleles a person has, but it is not yet possible to predict who will or will not develop AD. APOE ?4 is only a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, the blood test cannot predict for sure whether a person will develop AD or not.

What you want to know before you take a saliva test for DNA, however, is if the test can the detect the APOE ?4 gene (allele). If it can, you need to ask about the accuracy of the test. These are important considerations before spending money on a gene or DNA test.

You can expect to pay around $400 for a high quality test.

If you don't have the APOE ?4 gene you are still at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Why? If you read the paragraph above only forty percent of the people that develop late onset Alzheimer's have the gene. The other sixty percent don't.

People want to know my opinion on gene testing for Alzheimer's disease.

If you think it will help, I am for it. I am not opposed in anyway to a person learning more about their genetic make up and what diseases they might be predisposed to by birth. One positive of a genetic test is that it might convince the person to start living a healthier lifestyle. To really focus on nutrition. The test could be the catalyst.

Read more at Alzheimer’s Reading Room

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