Do I Want To Be Tested for Alzheimer’s?
By most standards, I’d be categorized a “senior.” As I wrote the previous post, Should All Seniors Be Tested for Alzheimer’s?, I began thinking about how this would affect me personally,
I asked for others to share their thoughts. So I’ll begin:
Do I want to be tested? More specifically, do I want someone to say, “You MUST be tested for Alzheimer’s or your likeliness of acquiring it?”
Because my aunt and mother had Alzheimer’s disease, someone could say, “You’re more likely to get it. So in that case, you MUST be tested.” Or they simply might consider it a good idea to be tested.
I don’t want someone to say I MUST if I’m not showing any indication that I’m acquiring the disease. I’m trying to engage in activities and diet that doctors probably would recommend anyway, if I did show indications toward Alzheimer’s.
Because close family members had this disease, I’m aware of the possibilities so am trying to adapt my lifestyle to one that will ward it off. However, there are so many contradictory conclusions out there about what will work and what won’t, who will get Alzheimer’s and who won’t.
As I think about this, I discover, the answer isn’t “cut and dried.” There are times when testing might be a good idea so you and the doctors have a better idea of treatment.
However, I’d like to be the one to make the choice…not have someone say I MUST be tested for Alzheimer’s simply because I’ve reached a specific age.
What about you?
(c)2007 Mary Emma Allen
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POSTED IN: Alzheimer's/Books, Alzheimer's/Care, Alzheimer's/News
2 opinions for Do I Want To Be Tested for Alzheimer’s?
Goji Juice Guy
Dec 30, 2007 at 12:36 am
I don’t feel like anyone should be REQUIRED to be tested based on their age. In my opinion, you have the right for yourself to determine if you should be tested. In your case, you are a person who is obviously very knowledgeable of the subject, so there is really no reaosn to test you. For other people, I believe it infringes on their rights to mandate testing.
Mary Emma Allen
Dec 31, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Thanks for visiting Azheimer’s Notes and sharing your thoughts about this topic.
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