y as a group, and dementia makes such devaluing worse. Indeed, we have little use in general for those who are considered in any way not to be whole. Knowing early on that one is likely to manifest AD may well lead not only to a heightened feeling of uselessness on the part of the person but to potential increased discrimination from others, practically speaking in terms of such things as obtaining insurance and various kinds of health care (will a person with high susceptibility be seen as a good candidate for a procedure like an organ transplant?) and more interpersonally by reduction to the status of person who is going to get Alzheimers.
If effective prevention or treatment of AD is developed, it may become possible to argue that early discover of ones susceptibility will be of benefit. At that time it may be appropriate for those at risk to be tested, but that possibility does not justify calling for such an effort now. --Stephen Sapp
Philip Boyle, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer, The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics, Chicago, IL. 312-266-2222 ext 227, pjb@prchfe.org.
Research that identifies genetic markers that that show greater susceptibility to late onset (after 60 years old) Alzheimers disease (AD) is likely to create confusion, and perhaps harm, if not placed within a proper understanding of the science and ethics of susceptibility (predictive) testing.
In the past ten years a similar late onset susceptibility testing for the so called APEO 4 (apolipoprotein E4 gene) has fashioned a unwarranted rush for commercial testing that in turn produced a series of harms to patients and families.
These harms ought to be considered before we witness a repeat performance based on todays findings. Todays study provides significant data, namely, asymptomatic family members of persons with late onset Alzheimers disease who have both the APOE gene and the 234 gene jump from a 10% probabil
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Contact: Brent Waters
srns@science-spirit.org
412-585-0842
Science and Religion Information Service
18-Jun-2001
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Related biology news :1.
Alzheimers disease is not accelerated aging2.
Study explores gene transfer to modify underlying course of Alzheimers disease3.
TANGO: towards faster prognosis of Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases?4.
DHA-rich diet protects brain from Alzheimers damage, UCLA study shows5.
Decreasing toxins in brains of Alzheimers patients keep cognitive deficits at bay6.
Early clinical treatment can halt progression of Alzheimers disease, UCI researchers find7.
New UCF researchers, college will help fight Alzheimers disease, cancer8.
Herpes tool allows researchers to customize Alzheimers vaccine9.
Altered protein involved in a novel link to Alzheimers disease10.
Alzheimers may leave some forms of memory intact11.
Cancer drug resistance research leads to possible therapeutic target for Alzheimers disease