Blood test predicts onset of Alzheimer's
 

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/...lzheimers.html

Blood test predicts onset of Alzheimer's

Very cool

Yes, very good news. Hopefully they'll improve on the accuracy and time.

I saw this on a current affairs show a couple of nights ago. Apparently there are negative implications also, such as problems getting health insurance if you know you're a candidate.

I think it's good though. Maybe people will benefit from knowing earlier, especially if research proves that like some cancers, early detection can mean erradiaction.

Ali, I was going to bring that up as well. The "markers" being discovered for numerous illnesses is potentially going to make people uninsurable. If you get the test and results and knowingly do not claim that you have the knowledge of the said results on your inusrance could be fraud. At the least they insurance company may be able to deny your claims.

Won't it piss god off when we tell those he is about to smite about it in advance?

At this stage it has nothing to do with god. Only living breathing human beings.

Re: becoming uninsurable

I suggest that this is one more reason why universal (i.e. government) health cover is a good thing. Everyone is automatically included, no-one can be refused, and the burden is spread as widely as possible.

I think it's too late for me!

I would want to go quietly if I knew Alzheimer's was in the post.
I feel like a burden on my family while I'm able to talk and appreciate them in person, let alone if they became frightening strangers to me.

Mum thinks Dad has Alzheimer's. Well, she says she does, I think it's the meanest thing she can think to say to him when his forgetfulness annoys her. The downside of an older husband I guess. I'll tell her about the test, that might make her stop and consider what she's actually saying.

If that's the meanest thing she ever says then she's doing ok SG.

In fact, I've just spent this morning telling my husband he's an idiot because he got the time of his flight wrong and so there's been a whole knock on effect today. It has been fairly light hearted and all, and not meant to be hurtful. Just a statement of fact really. What kind of an idiot gets their flight time wrong??? I ask you! ;)

Who is going to tell your insurance company? In the US that is illegal.

Aliantha and Mercenary (posts 3 and 4) raised the issue. Even if no one else is allowed to tell the insurance company, as Merc points out, the patient has to (or may have to, I don't know the law over there). Its in the full disclosure bit.

Exactly. So if they make a claim relating to their alzhiemers, they'll of course look into the patients medical history and discover that the patient knew all along what was coming (just for those who still don't get it).

Not if you get the test under an assumed name and don't bill your insurance for it. Neat little sideline for labs.

By the time Alzheimer's sets in, aren't most people old enough for Medicare anyway? '2 to 6 years before' isn't that much younger.