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Comment by foobiekr | Hacker News Reader

I want to know so that I can make plans. Including end of life plans, in all senses.

Exactly - there are things that I would change now to make sure I make thing easier for myself and - more importantly - easier for the people around me.

Those plans should be in place regardless of the results of a blood test

I think there are many people (myself included) whose plans would change dramatically upon discovery of Alzheimer's, dementia, or some other degenerative disease. I might consider moving to somewhere with more liberal assisted suicide laws for example.

No, they shouldn’t. Makes no sense to plan for living with a mental disability if you’re not close to needing it.

I am absolutely not going to plan on a care facility right now. That sounds absolutely bogus.

Notarizing any wishes against some medical procedures in case a sudden accident ruins your ability to dissent prevents doctors from being forced to keep your body alive as long as possible.

That doesn't apply to Alzheimer's disease directly though. If you don't want to live when your conscious life is limited to short flashes of awareness among a deeply terrifying melange of visions of the past and hallucinations, DNR laws don't in any way force or even allow doctors to euthanize you. You can persist in this state for many years without ever triggering a DNR check.

That is sadly true but at least you can prevent them from feeding you through a tube when you forgot how to swallow

My genetics are such I'm more likely to drop dead of a heart attack too young.

If I were likely to develop alzheimer's, I'd make more and more expensive accommodation for power of attorney and trusts to shield assets while I was competent to do so.

I was more referring to an advance directive / living will sort of thing

That is one very, very tiny aspect of EOL planning.

Yes, like walking out into the woods before it gets too bad.

Like what? You should already have a will, life insurance, etc. even without the disease. All you're doing by knowing earlier is causing psychological harms to yourself and the people you tell, adding more years of anxiety, grief, and sadness for no gain. Think about the bigger picture.

Downsizing your house? Picking your long term care location? Changing your asset balance? Recording more photos, audio, and video?

Knowing an early, painful fate allows you to approach it with dignity.

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