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A blood test may detect Alzheimer's 16 years before symptoms

Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:28 am
Posted by redstick13
Lower Saxony
Member since Feb 2007
38526 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:28 am
quote:

Doctors may be able to predict if someone will develop Alzheimer's disease up to 16 years before they show symptoms by testing for a certain protein in the blood, new research published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests. While no cure exists yet for Alzheimer's disease, the research could help in testing treatment options, the study's lead author said.


Is this something people would really want to know about before the onset? I'm not sure I would.
Posted by L S Usetheforce
Member since Jun 2004
22769 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:29 am to
Hell yeah I would...you would do a lot of things different if you knew
Posted by GetCocky11
Calgary, AB
Member since Oct 2012
51292 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:29 am to
quote:

Is this something people would really want to know about before the onset?


Absolutely.

I'd move to a state with legal physician-assisted suicide, and after 16 years I'd go through with that.
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
65701 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:29 am to
Hookers & Blow
Posted by redstick13
Lower Saxony
Member since Feb 2007
38526 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:30 am to
quote:

Hell yeah I would...you would do a lot of things different if you knew



Good point. Your loved ones would have it pretty tough though.
Posted by East Coast Band
Member since Nov 2010
62797 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:31 am to
Would be saddening to find out, though.
Posted by TheCaterpillar
Member since Jan 2004
76774 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:31 am to
Yes to prepare.

Also I’m sure there are pre-treatments or lifestyle changes that could slow it down or lessen symptoms.
Posted by DeafJam73
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2010
18451 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:33 am to
As fricking horrible as it would be, it would give you 16 years to get your affairs in order. Better than a sudden diagnosis.
Posted by JudgeHolden
Gila River
Member since Jan 2008
18566 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:35 am to
It would really eff you up if you got a false positive.
Posted by ellishughtiger
70118
Member since Jul 2004
21135 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:35 am to
Drink lots of water and less soda is s good way to start.
Posted by BestBanker
Member since Nov 2011
17481 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:36 am to
Then what?

Be denied for every type of insurance coverage available?
Posted by Dorothy
Munchkinland
Member since Oct 2008
18153 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:37 am to
quote:

Also I’m sure there are pre-treatments or lifestyle changes that could slow it down or lessen symptoms.



My stepfather was diagnosed in the early stages of Alzheimer's and was put on Aricept, which I think helped slow the progression of the disease significantly. He lived for a while before he died of a heart attack and never reached late stages of Alzheimer's. He and my mother even traveled a bunch after his diagnosis.

So yes, I would want to know early.
This post was edited on 1/23/19 at 7:39 am
Posted by JudgeHolden
Gila River
Member since Jan 2008
18566 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:40 am to
If I’m reading this right, you’ve got a 2% chance of having it at age 65, and an 8% chance at 85.

Looks like the odds are in my favor. Eat right, excercise, and stay active. I’d try to do that even if I knew it would hit me.

Also, as someone noted, knowing would eff up your loved ones as bad as you.
This post was edited on 1/23/19 at 7:42 am
Posted by Loaner1231
Member since Jan 2016
3903 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:41 am to
quote:

Is this something people would really want to know about before the onset? I'm not sure I would.


As someone who has family history of Alzheimer's, I'm torn. If researchers could develop legitimate ways to slow the progression of the disease, sure, the earlier you find out and can abate symptoms the better. Until that time, I think I'd rather not have that cloud of dread looming over my head for a decade and a half.
This post was edited on 1/23/19 at 7:51 am
Posted by RATeamWannabe
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2009
25946 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:44 am to
This would screw you over in the life insurance policy pricing
Posted by tigeraddict
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2007
11812 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:44 am to
quote:

Is this something people would really want to know about before the onset? I'm not sure I would.




would plan on retirement earlier so i can enjoy my no working years to my fullest, spent more time with kids/wife/family

I would even plan on making a video documentary to pass to my kids before my mind started to go.


Posted by foshizzle
Washington DC metro
Member since Mar 2008
40599 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:45 am to
quote:

Is this something people would really want to know about before the onset? I'm not sure I would.


Don't worry about that, you'd forget before too long.
Posted by BestBanker
Member since Nov 2011
17481 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:45 am to
And then after being ostracized from coverage, this is just a single genetic "propensity" test that will unquivocally state it is NOT 100% accurate.

Fear rulz!
Posted by deltaland
Member since Mar 2011
90637 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:46 am to
Seems you could prepare yourself better for it. Like write up a reminder of important things so you can remember certain people and stuff.
Posted by Huey Lewis
BR
Member since Oct 2013
4653 posts
Posted on 1/23/19 at 7:47 am to
quote:

Hell yeah I would...you would do a lot of things different if you knew


Why? I understand doing things different if it was avoidable or preventable through lifestyle changes, but if it's just knowledge of the inevitable outcome, what difference does it make?
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