@article {8806, title = {Desire for predictive testing for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease and impact on advance care planning: a cross-sectional study.}, journal = {Alzheimers Res Ther}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 12 13}, pages = {55}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether older adults in the United States would be willing to take a test predictive of future Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, or whether testing would change behavior. Using a nationally representative sample, we explored who would take a free and definitive test predictive of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, and examined how using such a test may impact advance care planning.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study within the 2012 Health and Retirement Study of adults aged 65~years or older asked questions about a test predictive of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (N = 874). Subjects were asked whether they would want to take a hypothetical free and definitive test predictive of future Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease. Then, imagining they knew they would develop Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, subjects rated the chance of completing advance care planning activities from 0 to 100. We classified a score > 50 as being likely to complete that activity. We evaluated characteristics associated with willingness to take a test for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, and how such a test would impact completing an advance directive and discussing health plans with loved ones.

RESULTS: Overall, 75\% (N = 648) of the sample would take a free and definitive test predictive of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease. Older adults willing to take the test had similar race and educational levels to those who would not, but were more likely to be <=75~years old (odds ratio 0.71 (95\% CI 0.53-0.94)). Imagining they knew they would develop Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s, 81\% would be likely to complete an advance directive, although only 15\% had done so already.

CONCLUSIONS: In this nationally representative sample, 75\% of older adults would take a free and definitive test predictive of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease. Many participants expressed intent to increase activities of advance care planning with this knowledge. This confirms high public interest in predictive testing for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease and suggests this may be an opportunity to engage patients in advance care planning discussions.

}, keywords = {Advance care planning, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer disease, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Male, Patient Acceptance of Health Care}, issn = {1758-9193}, doi = {10.1186/s13195-016-0223-9}, url = {http://alzres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13195-016-0223-9http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13195-016-0223-9.pdf}, author = {Sheffrin, Meera and Stijacic-Cenzer, Irena and Michael A Steinman} }