How Latinos in Northern Manhattan Might React to Alzheimer's Genetic Testing

Alzheimer's disease is a tough condition that affects many older adults. Scientists often use a test called APOE genetic testing to see who might get it. Latinos are a group that hasn’t been studied much for this disease, but they will be hit hard by it in the future. To help educate and advise Latinos about their genetic risk, we need to know how they might feel and act if they learn they have a higher chance of getting Alzheimer's. We talked to 216 Latinos aged 40 to 64 in northern Manhattan and asked them how they would react if they found out they were at a higher risk.

Most of them said they would feel emotional, practical, or a mix of both. Women were more likely to say they would feel emotional. Older people, over 60, were more likely to share this risk information with their immediate family. This shows that genetic counseling needs to be tailored for different groups based on their ethnicity, gender, and age. Future work could focus on creating support tools for Latinos who want to get tested and get counseling.

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