Do you want to know if you have Alzheimer's?

Say, how 'bout those Rangers?

by Ken

There are questions that don't have easy answers, and maybe not even a good answer. In the May AARP Bulletin, Peter Janet raises one heck of a nasty question:

Do you want to know if you have Alzheimer's?

He writes:

When researchers recently announced a promising new blood test for Alzheimer's disease -- one that could be as simple to perform as a standard cholesterol test -- reactions were mixed. While some experts heralded the news, others worried that, until effective treatments are available, learning that you're likely to develop Alzheimer's could cause more harm than good.

CERTAINLY THE VICTIM PATIENT -- SHOULD KNOW

If it were most any other sort of disease, I think most of us would say, of course the patient should know. So why should Alzheimer's be any different? There can be real advantages.

• "Experts say that developing a test for Alzheimer's allows for the possibility of more effective treatment. 'The main problem with treating Alzheimer's disease today is that the medicines are probably given too late to do much good," says Howard Federoff, M.D., professor of neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center, who was part of the team that developed the test. "Our research reports a biomarker that will allow us to select patients who have very early disease, and we can determine if medicines are more effective when given earlier.

"There's already good evidence that simple lifestyle changes can help slow the likelihood of developing dementia, says Jason Karlawish, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, who was not involved in developing the test. "A heart-healthy diet, physical activity, and social and cognitive stimulation can help preserve cognitive function," he says. People who learn that they are at high risk of developing Alzheimer's may be more motivated to make healthy changes.

• "Early detection would allow people to make informed decisions about their care before the symptoms of Alzheimer's get in the way -- one reason both the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America support early diagnosis."

ON THE OTHER HAND: "THERE ARE WORRIES"

The fact is, Alzheimer's isn't like most any other sort of disease.

• " 'A positive result on a test like this could be devastating,' says Craig Klugman, a bioethicist who chairs the Department of Health Sciences at DePaul University. 'It could change people's outlook on life, making them anxious, depressed and withdrawn. Suddenly you find yourself living with this sense of doom that can affect every dimension of your life.' "

• "People who test positive might also suffer the added burden of feeling stigmatized or ashamed, experts warn."

• "The stress of learning that you are likely to develop Alzheimer's could even worsen the symptoms of forgetfulness and confusion. 'What was a simple momentary lapse of memory before now becomes a terrifying symptom of this dread disease,' says Klugman.

"Indeed, a recent study looked at the effect of telling people that they carry a genotype that puts them at high risk of developing Alzheimer's. Those who learn that they tested positive judge their memories more critically and perform worse on memory tests than those who are not told."

• "Like almost all tests, the new blood test isn't perfect. The 90 percent accuracy rate means that some people would be told they will likely develop Alzheimer's over the next several years when, in fact, they won't. 'That would mean someone's life was turned upside down for nothing,' says Klugman."

SO, SHOULD PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S KNOW?

Good question. Say, how 'bout those Rangers making the Stanley Cup finals?

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