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Review
. 2020 Mar;33(2):136-140.
doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000573.

Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease: trends, challenges and ethical considerations

Miguel E Rentería  1   2 , Brittany L Mitchell  1   2 , Amaranta Manrique de Lara  3
Affiliations
Review

Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease: trends, challenges and ethical considerations

Miguel E Rentería et al. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Advances in personal genomics have made predictive genetic testing increasingly popular. The purpose of this review is to examine and summarize recent literature regarding the ethical concerns and considerations surrounding genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease.

Recent findings: Four basic bioethical principles can be applied in the context of genetic testing: autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence and justice. The concepts of clinical validity, clinical utility and personal utility are also necessary for the ethical deliberation of genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease. Ethical considerations can differ among three distinct settings present in the literature: research, clinical and direct-to-consumer services. Studies have found that the negative psychosocial impact of genetic test results on the individual is limited, but emphasize the importance of pre/posttesting genetic counselling.

Summary: The literature should ideally inform policy-making around genetic testing. There exists an urgent need for regulation, particularly in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) market, since interest for testing in this context is rapidly growing. Standardized protocols for disclosure should be developed, and there is a need to find ways to meet the growing need for genetic counselling. Importantly, comprehensive, evidence-based regulation requires that research be conducted in different contexts with more diverse participants.

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References

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    1. Marshe VS, Gorbovskaya I, Kanji S, et al. Clinical implications of Apolipoprotein E genotyping for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) risk estimation: a review of the literature. J Neural Transm 2019; 126:65–85.
    1. Manrique de Lara A, Soto-Gómez L, Núñez-Acosta E, et al. Ethical issues in susceptibility genetic testing for late-onset neurodegenerative diseases. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2018; [Epub ahead of print].
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MeSH terms