A couple years ago I spoke with hb's neurologist about genetic testing and she said the only one to test for is the aPoe 4. Yesterday I got to talking of where his sister is in this disease, then she started asking about family history. She has it in his file or I gave it to her a couple years ago. Anyone she asked if I wanted to test for the gene, but not the aPoe 4 - she said that is worthless to test for, but the presenilin - the early onset genes. I said I had thought about it but could not afford it. She double checked and said the VA will.
So I am now waiting for the nurse to call back to see if I have a co-pay on it and how much. Then where to have it done. I guess it has to be done in the morning (I assume fasting since morning). I hope The Dalles VA could do it cause it is only 2 1/2 hours drive as opposed to the 4 1/2 to Portland VA. Then to decide whether to have it. We have no bio kids, but if he does then his nieces would have more information whether to have testing. If he does not, then they will know their mom probably does not (but could) and are no more likely to end up with AD than anyone else.
She kept asking if any of his ancestors came from Iowa. Evidently there is a familial EOAD linked to Iowa people.
Charlotte, we have no children and when I was asked if we wanted to test for the familial gene or the early onset gene, I said no. We would have to pay all or something and quite frankly since we don't have children I wasn't going to incur a cost that has no benefit to us. His 2 living brothers know their oldest brother died of early onset alzheimers and my husband has early onset FTD. since they and their families don't even call once a year, they can get tested (or not). The doctors did tell us there is most likely a family link and that 50% of the offspring will most likely get some form of dementia.