Genetic tests for Alzheimer's disease: Types and more
Genetic tests to identify genes associated with Alzheimer's cannot guarantee whether a person will develop the condition. Instead, they may reveal that a person has an increased risk of Alzheimer's.
According to the United Kingdom's Alzheimer's Society, genetic testing may be suitable when it seems likely that the condition is due to a single-gene change. For example, if there is a clear family history of the condition.
However, various factors can contribute to Alzheimer's disease. A negative test result for associated genes does not guarantee that a person will not develop Alzheimer's disease.
A 2023 article highlights the following types of genetic tests for Alzheimer's disease:
Predictive and pharmacogenetic tests are only available in research or clinical settings. However, susceptibility tests may be available directly to consumers. People typically buy these tests and carry them out without medical supervision.
Some people may find direct-to-consumer tests quicker and more convenient than carrying out the tests in a clinical setting. Although some people may feel peace of mind with a home test, the results also risk causing distress.
Additionally, working with a healthcare professional can help a person better understand the results of their test. They can also provide information about lowering the risk of the disease and what treatment options are available if the person starts showing symptoms.
Anyone interested in genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease can speak with a healthcare professional for more information, whether they want to know more about the types available or want help understanding the results of a home test.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The little known warning sign that could mean you are MORE at risk of developing dementia
A doctor has shared a lesser-known warning sign that could mean you are more at risk of developing dementia. Dr. Kaete Archer - an ear, nose and throat doctor - revealed that experiencing middle-aged hearing loss could put you at a higher risk of developing the disease in comparison to those with healthy hearing. 'New research has shown that even early, mild hearing loss is a significant risk factor for dementia,' she explained in a recent video posted to TikTok. The expert then explained that untreated midlife hearing loss is responsible for seven percent of cases of Alzheimer's dementia globally. 'What if the first sign of cognitive decline wasn't memory loss, but rather trouble hearing?' the doctor questioned. She continued, saying hearing loss in middle aged people (between 40 to 60 years old) is often overlooked, but warned that anyone who experiences this should be extra careful. Archer detailed how hearing loss and dementia are related, explaining the brain is constantly receiving inputs from the world and, as our hearing declines, people's ability to process and receive those sensory inputs also declines. 'In response, our ability to interact back with the world declines and this has a significant negative impact and consequence on our brain and health function,' she said. The doctor quipped: 'It's not very sexy to tell someone they need a hearing aid, but what is very sexy is doing everything in your power to protect your brain health.' She urged anyone that is concerned about their hearing to make an appointment with an audiologist or ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor). Researchers estimated that 42 percent of Americans over age 55 will eventually develop dementia, as per the National Institute of Health. Shruthi Raghavendra, an audio research scientist at Harman International, told the Daily Mail that hearing loss is often overlooked as a modifiable risk factor for dementia, but growing research highlights its role in accelerating cognitive decline, social isolation, and neural atrophy. 'People with dementia may struggle to process auditory information, which can appear similar to hearing loss,' she explained. She added: 'Conversely, hearing loss can mimic or accelerate cognitive decline, making it harder to diagnose dementia accurately.' She explained there are three main mechanisms of the scientific link between hearing loss and dementia. The first was cognitive load theory, meaning the brain works harder to decode degraded auditory input from the ears. 'This "listening effort" diverts cognitive resources from memory, reasoning, or attention,' she explained. 'Over time, this constant strain may increase vulnerability to cognitive decline.' 'The second is auditory deprivation, as hearing loss reduces input to the auditory cortex, the part of the brain that processes audio,' Raghavendra said. She explained the lack of stimulation can lead to atrophy in brain regions, including those involved in speech processing and memory (e.g. temporal lobes, hippocampus). The third was social isolation, as hearing loss can lead to withdrawal from conversations and social activities, which she branded as a 'strong, independent risk factor for dementia.' Scientists have pinpointed subtle, telltale signs of the memory-robbing disease that can occur up to twenty years before the onslaught of classic symptoms strike. Problems with spatial awareness, like difficulty reading the sat nav or standing too close to other people, are thought to be the first signs of a future dementia diagnosis. Experts say these troubles often begin prior to the telltale brain damage appearing on scans. That's because, according to researchers from the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, the disease develops in two distinct phases, known as 'epochs.' The first so-called 'stealth' phase, which can begin decades before symptoms become obvious, involves damage to just a few vulnerable cells in the brain. And this typically happens in the part of the brain that's important for spatial navigation, Professor Michael Hornberger, dementia expert from the University of East Anglia, explained in a new report about the US research. The second phase, sees a build up of the proteins tau and amyloid in the brain. Whilst most aging brains will have some level of both these proteins, a significant clump of them can for plaques and tangle — and this is thought to be behind dementia symptoms. This is when telltale signs of cognitive collapse that we commonly associate with dementia — including memory loss, language difficulties and problems with thinking and reasoning — appear.
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
Oxfordshire child's 'harrowing' struggle to fit in at school
A mother has described the experience of her autistic child struggling to attend school and fit in as "really harrowing".The number of severely absent pupils in Oxfordshire has risen sharply, with one in every 38 children now missing more than half of number of so-called "ghost children" – those missing more than 50% of school – has increased more than five-fold in the county over the past decade, from 427 in 2015/16 to 2,305 in 2023/ Department for Education said the "government inherited a broken system" but that it was "determined to turn the tide on poor attendance". Lauren, not her real name, said her child's anxiety around school became so severe they once said they "didn't want to live any more".She said her child found it "very difficult to do anything normal... most of the time they spend half an hour in school each day". Sometimes Lauren would wait with her child at school for up to two hours. "You can tell they can't cope with being there," she said."Am I imagining these things? Am I a bad parent? You question all those things when, deep down, you know your child and you know they're unhappy"."The frustration of them not having those opportunities to fit into a normal education system is really harrowing."There can be many reasons for school absence including long term physical illness, or mental health issues, such as stress or rise in the number of children with a diagnosis of special educational needs and disability (SEND) was also creating a problem for schools, which often do not have the resources to support them. The Oxford-based charity Ark-T run therapeutic sessions at Orchard Meadow Primary in Blackbird Leys, where small groups of children work on art-based projects in a quiet, protected teacher Heather Richards said missing school could become a "vicious circle" but that the sessions had led to "real improvement" in attendance figures. "They have a stronger connection with some of the children in their year group," she added. "They also build their confidence."Lauren's child attends an online version of the sessions and said they "literally leap" to go to attend. 'Need a national effort' "Even if they're having a really bad week, they'll go to that session and they'll come out really buoyant and happy," she said. In a statement, the Department for Education said; "The government inherited a broken system, with children and families facing poor outcomes and barriers to opportunity. "The case for tackling the epidemic of school absence could not be clearer: improved grades, higher wages, better life chances."Tackling this issue is everyone's responsibility – government, schools, parents, and children – and we need a national effort to get our kids back in the classroom."As part of our plan for change, we are determined to turn the tide on poor attendance and break down barriers to opportunity - whether it's through attendance mentors, free breakfast clubs, improved mental health support, additional investment in family support, or more focus from Ofsted." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Traumatized husband reveals the secret signs of ovarian cancer
A dedicated husband has urged women to be aware of the silent signs of a deadly cancer that kills thousands every year, following his wife's devastating diagnosis. Matthew Cauli, who is now a full-time carer for his wife Kanlaya, wants to help raise better awareness around ovarian cancer in the hope that affected women will get earlier diagnoses. Ovarian cancer is notoriously hard to diagnose because symptoms can easily be mistaken for less serious problems due to hormones fluctuating throughout a woman's menstrual cycle. As a result, only one in five patients are diagnosed in the early stages before the cancer has spread. Catching the disease as early as possible is vital, as it is when treatment is most likely to be successful. In May 2020, his wife Kanlaya suffered two severe strokes which affected the right side of her brain, leaving her paralyzed. Doctors had no choice but to remove part of her skull to reduce the pressure on her brain caused by the blood clot. Looking for answers, doctors finally found a 10cm mass in her abdomen which was confirmed to be clear cell carcinoma - a rare type of ovarian cancer that predominantly affects younger women of Asian descent. While his wife's diagnosis and rapid decline took the family by surprise, Matthew said there were subtle warning signs they should have been aware of including swollen joints; abnormally heavy periods; vaginal bleeding; and extreme fatigue. He said: 'Fatigue - I had to laugh at this one because what young mom isn't tired.' Their son, Ty, was just three-years-old when he saw his mother suffer her first stroke in the midst of the pandemic. But there were other tell-tale signs that something was not quite right, Matthew explained in an Instagram video. 'She had random swollen joints. It was her elbow one time, then her knee. They tested her for Lyme disease, but it was negative.' Kenlaya also experienced menstrual irregularities in the months leading up to her diagnosis, and complained of heavy periods with blood clots. This is another common symptom of the deadly disease with tumors affecting the uterus or ovaries resulting in hormonal imbalances and a heavier flow in some women. 'Ovarian cancer is very hard to detect. You know your body best so talk with your doctor if you think something's going on,' Matthew warned his followers. While any woman can get ovarian cancer, certain factors can increase an individual's risk of developing the disease. These include age - with the risk of ovarian cancer increasing in older women -and a family history of the disease. Endometriosis, a condition that causes uterine tissue to grow outside of the womb, causing painful periods and heavy bleeding, also increases the risk of ovarian cancer fourfold according to some estimates. Finally, being overweight can also make you more likely to get ovarian cancer. Common treatment options include surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, chemotherapy to shrink the tumors and hormone therapy. Women experiencing symptoms such as bloating, a lack of appetite or feeling full quickly, an urgent need to urinate or needing to do so more often, are advised to see their doctor. Other potential signs of the disease include indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea, back pain, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and bleeding from the vagina after the menopause.
