By Leah Fein and Danny Yarnall
Simple direct-to-consumer genetic tests, like 23andMe, have made it easier than ever for people to learn their APOE genotype status. But experts disagree on the value of this information.
While everyone has two copies of the APOE gene, only the e4 variant (known as APOE4) increases one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. About 20 percent of the population has one or two copies of the e4 variant.
Penn Memory Center (PMC) researchers have studied the responses of more than 3,000 people who have learned their APOE genotype result. Penn experts say the value is something the individual has to assess.
“So far there is no significant uptick in psychological harm or acute psychological catastrophic reactions,” PMC Co-Director Jason Karlawish, MD, told the Wall Street Journal in a recent article on the topic. Still, “unless you have very particular reason you want to know your genetic risk, it’s not a very valuable test,” Dr. Karlawish said.