When coupled with extensive education, genotyping did not increase distress among individuals with risk for Alzheimer disease.
Now that genetic tests can inform us about the risks for serious diseases, the benefits and risks of such tests need assessment. Treatments and preventive interventions exist for certain diseases, such as breast cancer, but not for others, such as Huntington and Alzheimer diseases. These researchers assessed the psychological risks of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping in individuals with familial risk for Alzheimer disease.
Subjects had a parent with AD and had no major anxiety, depression, or cognitive problems. After an informational telephone interview and an educational session, 183 subjects had private counseling and a blood draw; 162 were randomized to receive or not receive genotype disclosure. All were informed about the risk for AD…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)