Centre for Policy on Ageing



Anticipating response to predictive genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease — a survey of first-degree relatives
Author(s)	J Scott Roberts
Journal title	The Gerontologist, vol 40, no 1, February 2000
Pages	pp 43-52
Keywords	Dementia ; Screening ; Attitude ; Children [offspring] ; Siblings ; Social surveys ; United States of America.
Annotation	203 siblings and children of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) - age range 30-92 and 73% female - were surveyed regarding potential predictive testing options for the disorder. A postal questionnaire posed various hypothetical scenarios and assessed interest in testing, perceptions of pros and cons, and psychological and demographic predictors of test intentions. In 5 of 6 scenarios, most of the participants expressed intentions to pursue testing. The most important reasons for seeking testing were informing later-life decisions and planning future AD care. Predictors of test intentions were male gender, information-seeking style, higher perceived AD threat, and appraisal of test pros versus cons. Situational factors such as available treatment options and certainty of test information also affected responses. Findings of this study may inform AD genetic counselling and health education efforts. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-010718207 A
Classmark	EA: 3V: DP: SS: SV: 3F: 7T
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.