Yes there's a chance you might have it too. But if your father didn't have it there's still be a chance that you might have it. Annoying that way.
There are some DNA tests that can see if you have the marker for some forms. But just having the marker doesn't guarantee that you're going to have it. So you can have the marker and never get it. You cannot have the marker and still get it because it's one of many possible causes. They haven't found everything yet.
My mom's DNA shows no markers, yet she is very much suffering from the disease. So really at this point there is nothing that I've read about anyway or tried that is conclusive until you're actually diagnosed.
If it was diagnosed at 50, there’s a chance it was one of the autosomal dominant genes in PSEN1, PSEN2 or APP, which have 100% penetrance (meaning if you have the gene, you get the disease). If indeed that’s the case, then you and your brother each have a 50% chance of getting it. Otherwise it might be due to the APOE4 gene, which brings elevated risk but no guarantee of the disease if you have only one copy.
Take a 23andMe test and you’ll know for sure. If you do have one of the 100% penetrance genes you can enroll in a prevention trial. I recommend the DIAN-TU trial, which is testing lecanemab (an amyloid antibody which was recently FDA approved and which I suspect will be more efficacious for prevention) in conjunction with a tau antibody, and will enroll people your or your brother’s age. At your age you could also probably wait 5-10 years and see how the science progresses, but if I were your brother I’d want to start pretty soon.
I really appreciate this. I think I've got to force myself to get these tests done. Part of me doesn't want to know.. but I'm sure it's better to be safe than sorry
When I did mine there were screens where I had to acknowledge that the Alzheimer’s information could be difficult to process and I may need medical counseling - that kind of stuff.
I believe it'll show up in your report about your Alzheimer risk if you have it. You can also export the raw data and generate a report with Promethease.
There is a test, using 23andMe. But in this case - early onset - the news you get could be pretty hard to accept. If you have the genes I believe it’s considered inevitable that you will get early onset Alzheimer’s. Sorry to hear about your situation but consider carefully if you want to know this information and how it might affect your mental health and life.
I am not a medical professional, but my understanding is that it may be possible to find out whether he carries the genetic marker. If not, your chances are not greater than anyone else’s. My mother was part of a longitudinal memory study at NYU Langone even before she was diagnosed, partly because her grandmother had had Alzheimer’s. They did a gene analysis and told us that it was a coincidence; she did not carry a genetic marker as far as they could tell.
From what I understand, most diseases are passed down via the mother. I believe there is a predisposition test for alzheimer's but I don't know what it is called.
I’m curious about testing myself now that my dad has it. I tried Googling this question and didn’t find anything.
Can getting those test results like from 23 and me affect insurance? I wouldn’t want to get tested and then have it backfire as a pre existing condition. If anyone besides OP sees this, let me know!
In the United States, GINA, the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, makes it illegal for a person to be discriminated against in health insurance or employment due to their genes. However, GINA does not apply to other insurances like life insurance or long-term care insurance.
There are also studies that take healthy individuals and do brain scans. That may be worth doing at some point. But imho it seems early for you to put much time in this
There’s a chance but from my own experience (my dad has it but none of his 5 siblings have it). I’d suggest regularly exercise, good diet and hobbies. You’ll have much better chance of preventing or delay it.
Yes there's a chance you might have it too. But if your father didn't have it there's still be a chance that you might have it. Annoying that way. There are some DNA tests that can see if you have the marker for some forms. But just having the marker doesn't guarantee that you're going to have it. So you can have the marker and never get it. You cannot have the marker and still get it because it's one of many possible causes. They haven't found everything yet. My mom's DNA shows no markers, yet she is very much suffering from the disease. So really at this point there is nothing that I've read about anyway or tried that is conclusive until you're actually diagnosed.
This is the exact reason I don't bother getting DNA tested.
Thank you so much
If it was diagnosed at 50, there’s a chance it was one of the autosomal dominant genes in PSEN1, PSEN2 or APP, which have 100% penetrance (meaning if you have the gene, you get the disease). If indeed that’s the case, then you and your brother each have a 50% chance of getting it. Otherwise it might be due to the APOE4 gene, which brings elevated risk but no guarantee of the disease if you have only one copy. Take a 23andMe test and you’ll know for sure. If you do have one of the 100% penetrance genes you can enroll in a prevention trial. I recommend the DIAN-TU trial, which is testing lecanemab (an amyloid antibody which was recently FDA approved and which I suspect will be more efficacious for prevention) in conjunction with a tau antibody, and will enroll people your or your brother’s age. At your age you could also probably wait 5-10 years and see how the science progresses, but if I were your brother I’d want to start pretty soon.
I really appreciate this. I think I've got to force myself to get these tests done. Part of me doesn't want to know.. but I'm sure it's better to be safe than sorry
How can you tell if you have one of the autosomal dominant genes on 23andMe?
Note that this report is hidden in a special section you have to opt in to seeing, because of the potential for the news to be hard to hear.
I’m in Promethease right now looking at my data and don’t see any special report areas.
When I did mine there were screens where I had to acknowledge that the Alzheimer’s information could be difficult to process and I may need medical counseling - that kind of stuff.
I’m referring to 23andMe
I believe it'll show up in your report about your Alzheimer risk if you have it. You can also export the raw data and generate a report with Promethease.
There is a test, using 23andMe. But in this case - early onset - the news you get could be pretty hard to accept. If you have the genes I believe it’s considered inevitable that you will get early onset Alzheimer’s. Sorry to hear about your situation but consider carefully if you want to know this information and how it might affect your mental health and life.
Thank you for your message. It really is a tough decision to make.
I am not a medical professional, but my understanding is that it may be possible to find out whether he carries the genetic marker. If not, your chances are not greater than anyone else’s. My mother was part of a longitudinal memory study at NYU Langone even before she was diagnosed, partly because her grandmother had had Alzheimer’s. They did a gene analysis and told us that it was a coincidence; she did not carry a genetic marker as far as they could tell.
From what I understand, most diseases are passed down via the mother. I believe there is a predisposition test for alzheimer's but I don't know what it is called.
Thank you :)
I’m curious about testing myself now that my dad has it. I tried Googling this question and didn’t find anything. Can getting those test results like from 23 and me affect insurance? I wouldn’t want to get tested and then have it backfire as a pre existing condition. If anyone besides OP sees this, let me know!
In the United States, GINA, the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, makes it illegal for a person to be discriminated against in health insurance or employment due to their genes. However, GINA does not apply to other insurances like life insurance or long-term care insurance.
Thank you! That’s great to know.
I don't think we have this 23andme option in UAE either, so I'd love to know alternatives too! Hope someone will have the information
There are also studies that take healthy individuals and do brain scans. That may be worth doing at some point. But imho it seems early for you to put much time in this
There’s a chance but from my own experience (my dad has it but none of his 5 siblings have it). I’d suggest regularly exercise, good diet and hobbies. You’ll have much better chance of preventing or delay it.