Is there a test to see if I will get Alzheimer&#39;s, like my mother?

Jun 21, 2011

I don't think so. In fact, there isn't even a test to see if someone has Alzheimer's, except post-mortem brain study. About half of the people diagnosed with Alzheimer's whose brains are studied after they die turn out not to have had Alzheimer's but some other kind of dementia.

Enormous research efforts are going on here and around the world to better diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent dementia of all kinds. Let's hope there will be breakthroughs soon. But right now, I don't think there are any tests to predict your liklihood of developing dementia.

54j

Jun 21, 2011

there is a blood test to see if you have the Alz gene. The doc that diagnosed my husband at Duke wanted our sons to have the test but they decided against it for now. Yes the only was to find out for sure is after death.

NancyH

Jun 22, 2011

I watched Dr Oz one day when they had 5 siblings, as I remember on the show, who all but one had a gene that showed they will or do have Alz. Both their parents had it I think, and 4 out of the 5 got early onset alz. Only the one sister escaped. So yes there is a gene screening like the one that shows the proclivity for breast cancer out there.

msad2000

Jan 25, 2012

Do people with dementia lose their bodily functions?

jeannegibbs

Jan 25, 2012

All bodily functions are controlled by the brain, so, yes, when there are problems in the brain there can be problems with almost any other functions.

JessieBelle

Jan 25, 2012

What age was your mother when she was diagnosed with Alz? naheaton is right that a gene abnormality can be found in people with early-onset Alz. The Alzheimer's Project with Maria Shriver is a wonderful video series that was made for TV. I recommend it for anyone who has a loved one newly diagnosed with Alz. It has so much information and gives a lot of hope that this mind-robbing disease will be cured one day soon.The series talks about the test for early-onset Alz, and follows a family that has the defective gene. It is probably the same family that naheaton saw on Dr. Oz.

I watched the video series and not only learned a lot, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Helpful Answer (1)

Natural

Mar 21, 2012

A test for the APOE e2 gene for Alz. lets you know if you are at risk?