US EditionMost people say they want to know their risk for Alzheimer's dementia, fewer follow through
- A 2025 WashU Medicine study found most healthy volunteers say they want to know their Alzheimer's dementia risk, but fewer actually opt to learn it when offered.
- This discrepancy arises amid ethical concerns because participants may face anxiety and no approved preventive treatments currently exist for Alzheimer's dementia.
- The study involved 274 volunteers in a Memory & Aging project who underwent genetic, blood, and brain tests to estimate their five-year dementia risk.
- While 81% initially expressed interest in knowing their risk, only 60% chose to receive actual results, with declines more common among those with parental Alzheimer’s history and African American participants.
- These findings suggest that research participants should have the option to decline results, and further research is planned as returning results becomes more common despite lack of effective treatments.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Do you want to know your risk of suffering from Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects people over 65 years of age, may be developing silently in the brain decades before its most obvious symptoms manifest. Dr. Daniel Amen, a renowned psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist, warned in a recently shared video on TikTok. His message is clear: preventing Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive problems begins long before the disease gives its face.
Most people say they want to know their risk for Alzheimer's dementia, fewer follow through
A new study examines the choices healthy research volunteers make when given the opportunity to learn their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease dementia. The researchers found a large discrepancy between the percentage of participants who said they would like to learn their risk if such estimates became available and the percentage who followed through to learn those results when given the actual opportunity.
Alzheimer's risk: Many say they want answers, but fewer choose to know the truth
As researchers make progress in understanding how Alzheimer's disease develops, there are growing opportunities for healthy research participants to learn their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease dementia in the future. While many organizations often advocate for investigators to share risk estimates with individual participants, there are ethical concerns around doing so, given that there are no medical interventions to change that risk.
Alzheimer’s facts and figures released
As the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease tops more than 7 million for the first time, nearly 4 in 5 Americans would want to know if they had Alzheimer’s. They also want treatment, even if it comes with risks, as long as it slows the progression of the disease. These are among the insights uncovered in the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report released by the Alzheimer’s Association on April 29. The 2025 Facts and Fi…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Right
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
