Alzheimer’s Genetic Testing Kit

Summary Of Test And Benefits

Knowing that your symptoms are due to Alzheimers can help inform your healthcare provider to prescribe specific Alzheimers treatments in order to aid in the management of the disease. If your symptoms are unlikely due to Alzheimers , your healthcare provider can search for other causes, some of which can be treated with different interventions.

Earlier detection provides the opportunity for earlier care options, including clinical trials. Many clinical trials for Alzheimers disease are looking for participants who show initial signs of cognitive impairment. You also may be eligible to enroll in clinical trials as a result of the PrecivityAD® test results.

Researchers at CN Diagnostics have found the PrecivityAD® test results to be an accurate indicator of Alzheimers disease pathology among people with memory and thinking issues. The PrecivityAD® test is easy to administer, does not involve any radiation, and is non-invasive. These features make it more accessible than other diagnostic methods doctors use to evaluate issues with memory and thinking.

Genetic Testing For Alzheimers With 23andme

Back in 2013 the FDA turned 23andMe down. They cited the need for proof that results are accurate. They also wanted better follow-up and counseling regarding results. After all, clients notified that they have a genetic mutation for Alzheimers, Parkinsons, celiac disease, or one of the other genetic diseases, may need professional guidance. Now 23andMe, which is based in Mendocino, California, provides a link to genetic counselors to set up an appointment to discuss results. The $199 charge for 23andMes Ancestry and Health home kit does not include fees for genetic counseling.

Collecting samples at home really is as easy as spitting in a cup. The mucosal cells that line the mouth slough off into saliva, providing DNA without the need for drawing blood. Clients must specify if they want to include testing for Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

Who Should Purchase An At

Anyone interested in their ancestry may wish to purchase a DNA test. These tests may also provide information about factors that increase the risk of developing certain health conditions.

• contacting a healthcare professional about which test to choose
• not making any dietary, medication, or lifestyle changes without speaking with a doctor
• remembering that genes are just one factor in health
• remembering that a test result does not guarantee that a person will develop a certain health condition

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Genetic Marker Associated With Risk Of Alzheimers And Heart Disease

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Variants in the ApoE gene are associated with the risk of Alzheimers disease and cardiovascular disease. This cheek swab test determines which of the E2, E3, or E4 variants of ApoE you have, thereby assessing your level of genetic risk.

Apolipoprotein E is an important regulator of cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your blood and supports lipid transport and injury repair in your brain.1

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease associated with the aggregation of proteins called amyloidß and tau, which deposit in AD brains as plaques and tangles. These plaques and tangles injure synapses in your brain and ultimately cause neurodegeneration and dementia.2,3

AD usually occurs later in life and is referred to as late-onset AD . Although multiple genetic and environmental risk factors are involved in LOAD, impairment in Aß clearance by ApoE is a major contributor to development of the disease.4

There are three different forms of the ApoE gene known as E2, E3 and E4 alleles. Genetically, E4 is the strongest risk factor for developing LOAD.5-7 According to the National Institute of Health, inheriting a single copy of ApoE4 from a parent increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by about three-fold. Inheriting two copies, one from each parent, increases the risk by about 12-fold.8 In fact almost 40% of AD patients have inherited an E4 allele.9

Instructions

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Dementia And Family Planning

If someone is known to carry a single-gene change that causes dementia, this may affect their plans to start a family. This is because there is a 1 in 2 chance of inheriting the same changed gene for any children they have.

In these cases, it is possible to try an approach called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis .

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What Are The Stages Of Late

As late-onset Alzheimers disease progresses, the symptoms become more serious.

Early stages of the disease might include difficulty remembering conversations, names, or events. These early symptoms might also include changes in mood, depression, and a lack of interest in life.

As the disease progresses, these symptoms can become more pronounced and may include difficulty recognizing the faces or remembering the names of loved ones. In later stages, as the disease becomes more severe, symptoms may include difficulty in communicating, disorientation, confusion, poor judgment, and behavioral changes.

In the final stages of the condition, at its most severe, symptoms might include difficulty speaking, swallowing, and walking. At these later stages, a person may have difficulty feeding themselves or dressing, and they often require specialized care.

What Is The Purpose Of Pgd For Families Affected By Dementia

Not every attempt at PGD works. However, when it is successful, PGD allows people affected by a familial dementia to have a child who is almost certain not to have the genetic change that the affected parent has. This means that the child will not develop the type of dementia caused by that gene change.

Also Check: Genetic Testing For Alzheimers Disease

How Is Alzheimers Disease Diagnosed

If you are concerned about symptoms, its important to talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. As part of its Healthy Brain Initiative, the CDC emphasizes the importance of early detection, which gives people and their healthcare providers information, care, and support for their diagnosis.

According to the CDC, people are typically not aware that they have the condition through much later. Its only when symptoms become increasingly disruptive, for instance when someone gets lost in a familiar place, that leads to the condition first getting diagnosed.

A doctor evaluating someone with early signs of Alzheimers disease may do cognitive tests and then refer them to a specialist for further testing. Some of those additional tests may include brain imaging and/or lab tests to look for signs of the disease, which can include structural changes in the brain or changes in levels of certain types of proteins.

Alzheimers Blood Tests Available Now

As of writing, there are two blood tests for Alzheimers available in the US: Preclivity AD Test and Quest AD- Detect. While neither have FDA approval, they are lab certified for reliability and are or will be seeking FDA approval. The main drawback through these non-invasive blood tests is that most insurance companies will not cover the cost of them because they are not FDA approved. So, this becomes an out-of-pocket expense. Below is a table that outlines both tests in terms of how much they cost, what they test for and how to get them done.

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Genetic Tests For Dementia On The Nhs

The NHS offers genetic testing for people believed to be at risk of an inherited form of dementia, for example frontotemporal dementia or some forms of younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease. This includes people who have a close relative who has been shown to have an inherited form of the condition or people with several relatives developing dementia when they are younger than 65 years of age. In these cases, genetic counselling is available if required, both before the test is taken and after the results. The self-testing kits do not offer any form of pre-test genetic counselling and don’t directly offer customers counselling after they are tested.

Due to the complex risk factors that lie behind the more common form of Alzheimer’s disease, the NHS does not offer a genetic test for it. The NHS does not test for APOE type or use this as a basis for diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Direct

1. How can consumers use information from direct-to-consumer tests?

While direct-to-consumer tests can lead to consumers becoming more engaged in their overall health and lifestyle decisions, results from direct-to-consumer tests should not be the sole basis of any type of medical decision making as these tests provide only one layer of a bigger picture. Therefore, results from direct-to-consumer tests should always be discussed with your health care provider. In addition, these tests are not a substitute for visits to a health care provider for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up and should not be used to determine any treatments.

2. Are direct-to-consumer tests accurate?

No test is 100% accurate. Some tests may be wrong due to an error in the test, and some results may be wrong due to an incorrect interpretation of the meaning of the result.

3. I received opposite or different results from two different companies. Why?

Different companies may test for different sets of variants, much like a store may offer different brands of products. One direct-to-consumer test company may look for one set of variants linked to a disease or condition, while a different test company may look at a different set. Additionally, direct-to-consumer tests may disagree on the interpretation on whether a variant is disease-causing or not.

4. If my direct-to-consumer test is negative, does that mean that I will not develop that condition?

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Heres The Deal About Dna Tests And The Information They Give You: While These Tests Examine The Structure Of Your Dna And Can Determine If You Have Certain Genes That Can Pose A Risk For Developing Conditions Such As Alzheimers Theres No Dna Test That Can Say You Will Definitively Develop Or Not Develop Alzheimers

Genetic testing can only identify if you have the genes that could play a role in developing a certain health condition, and according to the National Institute on Aging, its unlikely that DNA tests will ever be able to accurately predict who will get the disease and who doesnt. Thats because theres still so much to learn about Alzheimers disease, and because so many factors, such as your lifestyle and environment, come in to play.

Best For Personal History: Familytreedna

FamilyTreeDNA requires people to order their kit online and swab the inside of their cheeks after receiving their order. Then, they use the prepaid envelope to mail the kit to the companys CLIA-certified lab.

Results are available in 48 weeks.

There are four kits a person can choose from:

• Paternal Ancestry: This is a biological male-specific test that allows individuals to learn more about their heritage on the paternal side. It also shows the migration paths that male ancestors followed. The kit is available for $119.
• Family Ancestry: A person can buy this kit if they wish to see the origins of their DNA segments. The price is $79.
• Family Ancestry + myDNA Wellness: This comes with a family finder and provides health and wellness insights based on the persons DNA. People who subscribe to this package can also access the myDNA Unlocked app. All this is available for $119.
• Maternal Ancestry: This provides heritage information about the individuals maternal side and shows any migration paths ancestors might have taken. The maternal ancestry kit is available for $159.

Pros and cons

Lets have a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of FamilyTreeDNAs services:

A person can also undergo genetic testing in a healthcare setting.

These professional tests look for more gene markers , providing further information about current health conditions and those to which a person may be predisposed.

Below are some frequently asked questions about at-home DNA tests.

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Apoe And Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

Of all the risk genes identified so far, APOE has been found to have the strongest genetic link to Alzheimer’s disease. It forms part of a mechanism that transports cholesterol around the body, including in the brain.

The APOE gene has three different forms, called variants 2, 3 and 4. These variants have slight differences in their DNA patterns. Like most genes, we inherit one form of APOE from each of our parents. Inheriting variant 4 has been shown to increase risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, with the greatest risk occurring for those who inherit two copies. The variant 2 form of the gene has been linked to a slightly reduced risk. This is due to the changes in the genes having different effects on the way that the gene behaves. The reason behind why these changes influence Alzheimer’s development is so far unclear.

Inheriting one or two copies of APOE variant 4 does not mean that you will definitely develop Alzheimer’s. It just means that you are more likely to develop the condition than someone who does not have any copies of APOE variant 4. Conversely, inheriting variants 2 or 3 of the gene does not mean that you are protected from getting Alzheimer’s disease.

It is likely that a combination of several different genes determines your risk of being affected by the common form of Alzheimer’s disease. The self-testing kits do not check for any of these other risk genes.

So While A Dna Test Cant Give You A Definitive Yes Or No About Whether Or Not Youll Develop Alzheimers Disease It Can Clue You Into Whether Or Not You Carry The Genes That Could Increase Your Risk

DNA tests can determine if you carry any of the variants of the APOE gene that are known to be related to Alzheimers. But, because there are several variants of the APOE gene, and not all are fully understood, being informed that you have these genes doesnt mean that youll develop the disease.

So, what do you do if you find out that youre a carrier any genes related to Alzheimers development? First, you shouldnt assume that youll for certain develop the disease. But, you can work with a genetic counselor to better understand your personal risks, and make lifestyle and environmental changes that can help counteract and reduce your chances of having Alzheimers disease.

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Statement Of The Alzheimers Foundation Of America And Afas Medical Scientific And Memory Screening Advisory Board On Genetic Testing To Determine Risk Of Alzheimers Disease

STATEMENT OF THE ALZHEIMERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA AND AFAS MEDICAL, SCIENTIFIC AND MEMORY SCREENING ADVISORY BOARD ON GENETIC TESTING TO DETERMINE RISK OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE

Introduction

Genetic testing, including testing for ones risk for Alzheimers disease , is becoming increasingly available. To guide optimal use of this important innovation, the Alzheimers Foundation of America identifies issues that need to be considered in the decision to obtain genetic testing for late onset AD risk. Before deciding to request genetic testing to determine risk of late onset AD, it is important for individuals to understand the benefits, limitations and other implications of learning this personal genetic health information.

Guidance to consumers is provided by commercial genetic testing firms but there are no industry-wide standards for this information, and thus far the U .S. Food and Drug Administration statement on communicating about AD genetic risk is limited to the to the one commercial firm offering this testing.

Background

On April 6, 2017 the FDA approved a commercial enterprise to market a Genetic Health Risk kit to test for, among other items, late onset AD risk. Using DNA from a saliva sample, the kit yields a report on consumer Apolipoprotein-E 4 allele status . Possession of one APOE4 allele increases the risk of developing late onset Alzheimers disease by 3 to 5-fold, and possession of two APOE4 alleles increases risk 15 to 20-fold.

Risks

Benefits

References

Many People Are Simply Unsure If They Should Take A Dna Test To Determine If They Are At Risk Of Developing Alzheimers Disease

The only person who can make the best choice when it comes to taking a home DNA test for Alzheimers is you. For many people, theres a lot of stress, worry, and fear associated with taking a home DNA test specifically to learn about their risk of Alzheimers disease.

For this reason, the Alzheimers Society says that when having a DNA test for Alzheimers, its vital that proper genetic counseling is provided to ensure it is the correct decision for your medical health and well-being.

Still, at home DNA tests are an inexpensive way to calm your fears or encourage you to make more informed lifestyle choices. In fact, many genetic counselors say that theres nothing wrong with taking a home DNA test, so long as you loop your doctor into discussions about why youre taking the test, and what information youre hoping to learn.

In this way, your health care provider can help you interpret the test results and also provide you with resources for improving your health, regardless of what the DNA test results suggest.

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Who Else Is At Risk For Developing Alzheimers

Age is the number one risk factor for Alzheimers disease. As we get older, chronic diseases associated with aging such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes start to take their toll on the brain as well as the body.

Women are more likely than men to get Alzheimers, for multiple possible reasons. Women generally live longer than men, so they might have more time to develop the condition. Historically, women did not receive as much education as men, which experts surmise could have increased the risk for earlier generations. There also appears to be an interplay between the loss of estrogen during menopause and Alzheimers research is ongoing into whether hormone replacement therapy could be beneficial.

Black and Latino Americans also have an elevated risk for Alzheimers two- and 1.5-times higher than white Americans. One recent study found that the brains of Black Americans aged faster than white Americans brains, with more neurodegeneration at an earlier age, which could contribute to risk of disease. The authors theorize that one reason for these disparities is the additional stress Black and Latino Americans experience because of systemic racism.