Blood test to detect early Alzheimer's

[Thephoenix]

Reading in the press today that a blood test has been developed that can detect Alzheimer's 15 years before seeing symptoms.

I've cared for a number of elderly relatives with various stages of Alzheimer's.
Some were co-operative, and other in denial and extremely difficult to manage.
I've also got early dementia myself.

None of the relatives I cared for received effective treatment for their condition.

Would you want to take the test and have 15 years of your life to worry about getting Alzheimer's.

I don't think I would!

[george r]

saw it myself on tv this morning, dont think i would want to know , lets hope it helps finding a cure asap .

[JontyR]

I think I would. I'd certainly change my priorities. Take more holidays, including a final one way trip to Switzerland.

[Jonestown]

I think I would. I'd certainly change my priorities. Take more holidays, including a final one way trip to Switzerland.

Not sure about the one way, I've heard they send your ashes back in a giant Toblerone box.

[shed]

I certainly wouldn't take it for the reason you suggest. However if there was a cure available for dementia then I would be first in the queue for the blood test, but there isn't sadly.

[PepeMAGA]

Depends if there's medication or supplements that can help slow it down.

[akauya]

I would definitely want to know. It would give me time to get my shit in order. Get rid of embarrassing evidence that would prove without doubt that, despite appearances, I'm a dirty old fucker.

[Thephoenix]

I would definitely want to know. It would give me time to get my shit in order. Get rid of embarrassing evidence that would prove without doubt that, despite appearances, I'm a dirty old fucker.

It would be handy to know before the symptoms kicked in.
But 15 years? 

[Blackpool Rock]

It would be handy to know before the symptoms kicked in.
But 15 years? 

There's a good argument for not knowing when you are actually going to die as the countdown would be really hard to take however this condition is a gradual downward slope.
15 years before symptoms kick in would give you a lot of time to plan what you were going to do and in truth for a lot of people they would probably make the most of the next 15 years and live a far better quality of life than the rest of us who just stagger from day to day 

I'd probably plan to budget my money so that I had a whale of a time for 15 years but then still had 5 years left, once I saw the symptoms coming then i'd be planning how to take back control my own way 

[alabama1]

I think I would. I'd certainly change my priorities. Take more holidays, including a final one way trip to Switzerland.

I am with you on this mate 

[alabama1]

I would definitely want to know. It would give me time to get my shit in order. Get rid of embarrassing evidence that would prove without doubt that, despite appearances, I'm a dirty old fucker.

You wouldn't be here to get embarrassed 

[alabama1]

Reading in the press today that a blood test has been developed that can detect Alzheimer's 15 years before seeing symptoms.

I've cared for a number of elderly relatives with various stages of Alzheimer's.
Some were co-operative, and other in denial and extremely difficult to manage.
I've also got early dementia myself.

None of the relatives I cared for received effective treatment for their condition.

Would you want to take the test and have 15 years of your life to worry about getting Alzheimer's.

I don't think I would!

Sorry to hear this. Don't know what to say except wishing you your best life. 

[simon07]

I think I would want to know. Maybe find evidence based studies that might suggest a different diet or exercise options etc? Good way of getting out of troubles by saying, I have dementia - i thought i had clothes on under my overcoat.

[shed]

Sorry to hear this. Don't know what to say except wishing you your best life. 

When you don't know what to say, it's best to say nothing