Take Control of Your Alzheimer’s Risk: Understanding Genetics and Lifestyle

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There’s an awful lot we still don’t know about Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists still don’t fully understand what causes its onset. It’s estimated that 75% of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease across the globe are undiagnosed [World Alzheimer’s Report 2021].

We do however know that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s is informed by both genetics and lifestyle. While the former makes a significant contribution to an individual’s overall risk, the impact of environmental factors should not be underestimated, and this is where you can make active choices to include preventative measures in your daily life.

Caring for a loved one facing Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming at times, and you may be concerned that this devastating disease might be in your future too. If this sounds like you, one option that is available to you is an assessment of your personal genetic risk. We can’t change our genes, but if the indications are that we’ve inherited a high genetic risk for AD, this knowledge can act as a starting point or a basis upon which decisions about preventative lifestyle choices can be made.

A genetic test, like the Alzheimer’s Risk Test, will allow you to understand your genetic risk and enable you to create a prevention-focused action plan with your physician. The risk of Alzheimer’s disease can be reduced, and the onset delayed by implementing the right measures. In fact, there is growing evidence that making positive changes to 12 so-called modifiable risk factors, e.g., diet, exercise, smoking, blood pressure, etc., can make a difference.

Understanding your genetics can also put your mind at ease. Caring for a relative with Alzheimer’s does not automatically mean you will receive a high-risk score, even as a child or sibling of an Alzheimer’s patient. A simple saliva sample is all that is needed to determine your personal genetic risk. Information is power, and it’s important to make full use of the opportunities available to live a happy and healthy life.

How Can I Get a Test?

The Alzheimer’s Risk Test powered by genoSCORE™ is a non-invasive test that examines thousands of genetic variations in your DNA to determine your personal risk score.

This test is only available from a physician, so a licensed medical professional can guide you through the results.

To order a test, go to the Alzheimer’s Risk Test website to find your nearest clinic. There’s also a telehealth option that allows you to have a virtual consultation with a board-certified neurologist who will discuss the test with you and assess whether the Alzheimer’s Risk Test is right for you.

How Does the Test Work?

You might be wondering how the test works and how it compares with other tests you may have heard of.

The Alzheimer’s Risk Test, powered by genoSCORE™ looks at an individual’s genes, or the code that was passed to them by their parents, to find out if they have been born with a higher or lower risk than other people of a similar age. The test uses state-of-the-art genotyping techniques to assess 112,000 individual genetic variants to produce a single risk score between 0 and 1. There is no other test commercially available in the US that is able to do this. The Alzheimer’s Risk Test is also unaffected by other medical concerns or medications, as it is uniquely objective.

The APOE gene has been in the news of late, with Chris Hemsworth recently stepping back from acting after he found out that he is at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than most other people. The test Hemsworth took looked at a single gene, the APOE gene. and he was identified as carrying two copies of the E4 variant which has been connected to increased risk, although the underlying mechanism for how this specific allele influences onset and progression is unknown. The Alzheimer’s Risk Test examines thousands of pieces of genetic information, not just a single gene, making it a more comprehensive test. Studies conducted by Cytox Limited, the developers of genoSCORE™ technology, have shown that the Alzheimer’s Risk Test is 82% accurate in predicting clinical disease.

Should I get a test?

The benefits of genetic testing in Alzheimer’s disease include understanding the importance of taking action to reduce the chance of developing the disease, as well as helping identify those most likely to benefit from therapies, such as recently FDA-approved Lecanemab/Leqembi™ (Eisai/Biogen). Harness the power of the Alzheimer’s Risk Test and use an understanding of your genetics to help you make appropriate lifestyle choices. Behavior change is difficult, but making lifestyle changes that focus on brain health, specifically aimed at the 12 modifiable risk factors, offers everyone the chance to take control of their long-term brain health.

Find a clinic here or register your interest to have your closest clinic contact you.