Ethical Issues in the Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease

This paper considers ethical issues related to early diagnosis and all forms of prevention of Alzheimer disease and related conditions. It offers a critical view of the current state of scientific, clinical, and social responses to the growing number of older people with cognitive challenges, and suggests how priorities going forward should be different from those receiving most attention today. We begin with a review of global policy efforts, consider the fundamental goals of prevention, examine issues surrounding early diagnosis, explore more deeply values associated with efforts to prevent age associated cognitive decline, and conclude by considering often unexplored ethical issues that contextualize the field and should influence our approaches to the future.

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Ethical issues in early diagnosis and prevention of Alzheimer disease

Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience ◽

10.31887/dnc.2019.21.1/pwhitehouse ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 101-108

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer Disease ◽

Early Diagnosis ◽

Older People ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Social Responses ◽

Critical View ◽

Global Policy ◽

Current State ◽

The Future

This paper considers ethical issues related to early diagnosis and all forms of prevention of Alzheimer disease and related conditions. It offers a critical view of the current state of scientific, clinical, and social responses to the growing number of older people with cognitive challenges, and suggests how priorities going forward should be different from those receiving most attention today. We begin with a review of global policy efforts, consider the fundamental goals of prevention, examine issues surrounding early diagnosis, explore more deeply values associated with efforts to prevent age associated cognitive decline, and conclude by considering often unexplored ethical issues that contextualize the field and should influence our approaches to the future.

Download Full-text

Ethical issues in early diagnosis and prevention of Alzheimer disease

Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience ◽

10.31887/dcns.2019.21.1/pwhitehouse ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 101-108

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer Disease ◽

Early Diagnosis ◽

Older People ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Social Responses ◽

Critical View ◽

Global Policy ◽

Current State ◽

The Future

This paper considers ethical issues related to early diagnosis and all forms of prevention of Alzheimer disease and related conditions. It offers a critical view of the current state of scientific, clinical, and social responses to the growing number of older people with cognitive challenges, and suggests how priorities going forward should be different from those receiving most attention today. We begin with a review of global policy efforts, consider the fundamental goals of prevention, examine issues surrounding early diagnosis, explore more deeply values associated with efforts to prevent age associated cognitive decline, and conclude by considering often unexplored ethical issues that contextualize the field and should influence our approaches to the future.

Download Full-text