Now that researchers have developed a simple blood test that may be able to
predict whether mild lapses of memory could be an early sign of
Alzheimer’s disease, we have tough choice ahead of us: Do we really want to know?
Reuters reports that an
international team of researchers describe 18 cell-signaling proteins found in blood that predicted with 90 percent
accuracy whether a person would develop Alzheimer’s disease. They said tests to detect changes in these proteins could be used to
predict the disease two to six years ahead of its onset.
Yikes! Two to six years!
Do you want to know if Alzheimer’s is in your future? Click on "Comments" below and tell SportsGeezer readers what you think.
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I would LOVE to know if I will have Alzheimers.
I have a family history of Alzheimers/Age-related dementia. I’m now 53 and I’m very concerned about it. However I’m also concerned how the information might affect my life and family. Also are there any repercussions with medical insurance, can I be turned down or denied coverage once diagnosed?
Of course I would want to know. There are things you can do to slow it down. It would help you to plan for the future……to get your life in order.
This is a bad idea. If one is tested positive it could effect employment, insurance ect…
Diana posted the comment that “…there are things you can do to slow it down.” I would like to know what. Yes there are things you can do to slow down age-related cognitive decline but that is not the same thing as Alzheimer’s or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). I would love to know what can be done to slow it down. My wife has MCI and nothing we have done, and we have done a lot, has had any impact on her cognitive decline. Moreover I am not aware of having read any study that shows that Alzheimer’s can be slowed down by anything. On the other hand, normal age-related cognitive decline is quite responsive to a number of interventions including exercise and brain training, as well as various supplements. In short, if you can’t slow Alzheimer’s down, other than making plans for ultimate dementia, there is no obvious good reason why one should want to know if they are afflicted with this terrible disorder that remains untreatable.
I agree with Tony. Does anyone have any information on the negative aspects (non-medical) of early diagnosis?