Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Commentary
  • Published:

Genetic testing and Alzheimer disease: Has the time come?

Nature Medicine volume 4, pages 757–759 (1998)Cite this article

With the identification of several Alzheimer disease (AD)-associated genes, genetic testing for AD is possible. However, as for some other-late onset disorders, the ethical and social implications of such tests are considerable. In response to the commercial availability and the likely increased use of AD genetic tests, The Stanford Program in Genomics, Ethics, and Society formed a broad-based working group to examine the pros and cons of testing. Here they present their recommendations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Butler, R.N. ApoE: new risk factor for Alzheimer's [editorial]. Geriatrics 49 10–11 (1994).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. American College of Medical Genetics, American Society of Human Genetics & Working Group on ApoE and Alzheimer Disease. Statement on use of apolipoprotein E testing for Alzheimer disease. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 274, 1627–1629 (1995).

  3. Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee & Alzheimer's Disease International. Consensus statement on predictive testing for Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc. Disord. 9, 182–187 (1996).

  4. National Institute on Aging & Alzheimer's Association Working Group. Apolipoprotein E genotyping in Alzheimer's disease. Lancet 347, 1091–1095 (1996).

  5. Post, S.G. et al. The clinical introduction of genetic testing for Alzheimer disease: an ethical perspective. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 227, 832–836 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Holtzman, N.A. & Hilgartner, S. Promoting Safe and Effective Genetic Testing in the United States: Final Report of the Task Force on Genetic Testing. (eds Holtzman, N.A. & Watson, M.S.) (National Institutes of Health, Washington, DC, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Koenig, B. et al. Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2: Recommendations of the Stanford Program in Genomics, Ethics, and Society. J. Womens Health 7, 531–545 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lehrman, S. Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease ‘not appropriate’. Nature 389, 898 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Schofield, P.W. et al. Alzheimer's disease after remote head injury: an incidence study. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 62, 119–124 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Farrer, L.A. Genetics and the dementia patient. Neurologist 3, 13–30 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. International Huntington Association & World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Huntington's Chorea. Guidelines for the molecular genetics predictive test in Huntington's disease. Neurology 44, 1533–1536 (1994).

  12. Roses, A.D. Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer's disease: a rapidly expanding field with medical and epidemiological consequences. Ann. NYAcad. Sci. 802, 50–57 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Mayeux, R. Saunders, A.M. Shea, S. Mirra, S. & et al. Utility of the apolipoprotein E genotype in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. N. Engl. J. Med. 338, 506–511 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. L.M. McConnell: Correspondence should be addressed to L.M. e-mail: lauramcc@leland.stanford.edu

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford University Program in Genomics, Ethics, and Society, 701 Welch Road, Suite 1105, Palo Alto, California, 94304, USA

    L.M. McConnell, B.A. Koenig, H.T. Greely & T.A. Raffin

Authors
  1. L.M. McConnell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B.A. Koenig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H.T. Greely
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T.A. Raffin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McConnell, L., Koenig, B., Greely, H. et al. Genetic testing and Alzheimer disease: Has the time come?. Nat Med 4, 757–759 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0798-757

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0798-757

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing