3 ms·

There was another interesting publication about Alzheimer's Desease last week: It appears to be possible to detect the misfolded amyloid‐β protein in a blood sa

by maho 8y ago

There was another interesting publication about Alzheimer's Desease last week: It appears to be possible to detect the misfolded amyloid‐β protein in a blood sample many years before symptoms develop: http://embomolmed.embopress.org/content/early/2018/04/04/emmm.201708763 http://embomolmed.embopress.org/content/early/2018/04/04/emm...

ekianjo 8y ago
Interesting but not sure there is a clear benefit of knowing ahead of time when there's no treatment available. Knowing how you will end will significantly affect your outlook on life.
- StavrosK 8y ago
  Maybe that is the benefit.
- exhilaration 8y ago
  Knowing ahead of time would allow you to make sure that you put your affairs in order well ahead of time, set up long term care options, restructure your investments and property holdings. I think the knowledge would be very valuable.
  - sgc 8y ago
    As well as increase your exercise, mental stimulation/effort, and social life, which have been shown to help reduce the effects of the disease. Not all people heading towards Alzheimer's will walk the same path. Not even close.
- amp108 8y ago
  My mother has Alzheimer's, and I have the ApoE4 gene. Knowing is better. The only other options are (a) knowing after it's too late to do anything, or (b) knowing at the exact moment science makes a discovery. Since we can't know (b) ahead of time, we're left with either knowing ahead of time, or too late. Knowing sucks, but it sucks less than any other option.
  - monetus 8y ago
    The only counter argument to this I could imagine would be the one I often hear used for other brain abnormalities; i.e. if the knowledge of a potential health problem instigates a mental health issue, ignorance could be better. I subscribe to your opinion, however.
- jonballant 8y ago
  As mentioned above, the main benefit could be for the family members. When my grandmother was diagnosed it took our family completely by surpise. She lived in another state and my elderly grandfather was the only one around to take care of her. Eventually, she had to be moved to a nursing center where the health care costs are astronomical. Of course no one wants to hear this news early, but in terms of preparations that can be made by family members, the earlier the knowledge the better. When a family member is struck with an illness it does not just affect the individual, but rather the whole family.
- adrianN 8y ago
  You can choose how you will end.

by maho 8y ago

ekianjo 8y ago

Interesting but not sure there is a clear benefit of knowing ahead of time when there's no treatment available. Knowing how you will end will significantly affect your outlook on life.

StavrosK 8y ago
Maybe that is the benefit.
exhilaration 8y ago
Knowing ahead of time would allow you to make sure that you put your affairs in order well ahead of time, set up long term care options, restructure your investments and property holdings. I think the knowledge would be very valuable.
- sgc 8y ago
  As well as increase your exercise, mental stimulation/effort, and social life, which have been shown to help reduce the effects of the disease. Not all people heading towards Alzheimer's will walk the same path. Not even close.
amp108 8y ago
My mother has Alzheimer's, and I have the ApoE4 gene. Knowing is better. The only other options are (a) knowing after it's too late to do anything, or (b) knowing at the exact moment science makes a discovery. Since we can't know (b) ahead of time, we're left with either knowing ahead of time, or too late. Knowing sucks, but it sucks less than any other option.
- monetus 8y ago
  The only counter argument to this I could imagine would be the one I often hear used for other brain abnormalities; i.e. if the knowledge of a potential health problem instigates a mental health issue, ignorance could be better. I subscribe to your opinion, however.
jonballant 8y ago
As mentioned above, the main benefit could be for the family members. When my grandmother was diagnosed it took our family completely by surpise. She lived in another state and my elderly grandfather was the only one around to take care of her. Eventually, she had to be moved to a nursing center where the health care costs are astronomical. Of course no one wants to hear this news early, but in terms of preparations that can be made by family members, the earlier the knowledge the better. When a family member is struck with an illness it does not just affect the individual, but rather the whole family.
adrianN 8y ago
You can choose how you will end.