Stanford Report, May 10, 2006

Ethics of testing for Alzheimer's risk

If your doctor said you had early signs of Alzheimer's disease before you showed any symptoms, what would you do? Finalize your will? Travel the world? Sink into a depression?

Having that information can allow people to plan ahead. What it can't do is fend off the mental deterioration that follows. Technologies for predicting the disabling disease are currently a step ahead of tools for treatment. Given that disparity, should such tests be offered and if so to whom? Who should pay for the testing? What if results alter insurance rates or employment?

These questions will be addressed at a symposium co-hosted by Judy Illes, PhD, director of the neuroethics program at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, and Michael Greicius, PhD, an instructor in neurology and neurological sciences. Presentations will cover imaging technology for detecting early Alzheimer's, ethical issues regarding who should be tested and public policies needed to ensure privacy and appropriate testing.

The symposium will be held in M104 from 8 a.m. to noon on May 16. The schedule can be downloaded at http://scbe.stanford.edu.