Imagine the test is 100% accurate: if you gave it to a group of people, you could then try to make interventions earlier, capture more data about lifestyle before symptoms, etc.
As long as there isn't a clear root cause found and some real mitigating medicines reach the market I would propose keeping people ignorant as long as we can.
This is how science works. There are studies all over the US which involve existing patient and many join to help themselves and those who will come after.
Entering a study for people who tested positively would also be voluntary.
Anecdotal responses in this topic indicate there may be some mitigatimg medicines.
Demanding a root cause before doing anything is silly. Finding root cause in biological systems is incredibly difficult; there's value in finding symptoms and managing symptoms without finding a root cause. And dangers of focusing too much on any one indicator.
That's not to say I suggest everyone be screened for everything. If there are limited mitigations, it's not appropriate for most people to be screened. But even if there are no medical mitigations, you might put your affairs in order with appropriate urgency if you knew your cognition would be much reduced in the next 5-10 years.
It would affect my financial and estate planning, and how I'd like to navigate the disease's progression.
Alzheimers can lead to all kinds of other issues like impulsivity, or aggressiveness. People gambling away their life savings, not knowing that they are even doing it. Doctors unable to intervene due to rights around patient autonomy. All of this has big consequences in the lives of those affected.
There’s a degenerative genetic disease that runs in my family that for various reasons we only found out about ten years ago. To get the test done in the UK for it, you have to go to mandatory genetic counselling where they try to convince you not to get it done. Of four siblings, the two of us who thought initially we’d definitely get it done, we’ve not, and the two who were sure they wouldn’t, have done.
They try and convince you not to get it done so you don’t end up confusing being tired one morning or tripping with “oh my God it’s starting”.
Everyone should get their affairs in order, regularly, without needing a test, if they care about their loved ones.