Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Disclosure: Emotional Responses and Lifestyle Changes
Learning about one’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease may not lead to emotional distress, but motivation to maintain healthy lifestyle changes tends to fade over time, even in people at high risk, according to a recent study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The study, led by researchers from the Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel and the Rutgers Brain Health Institute, sheds light on how individuals emotionally respond to learning their amyloid beta status, a key indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.
Amyloid beta is a protein found in the brain that is closely linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The buildup of amyloid plaques can be detected decades before symptoms appear, making it a valuable biomarker for early detection. In this study, 199 healthy adults underwent amyloid PET scans to determine their amyloid beta status. Before the scan, participants completed surveys measuring anxiety, depression, memory concerns, and motivation for lifestyle adjustments. The same surveys were administered six months after they received their results.
The results of the study revealed interesting findings. Participants without amyloid buildup experienced significant emotional improvements, reporting lower levels of depression, anxiety, and memory complaints. However, their motivation to maintain lifestyle changes declined over time. On the other hand, participants with amyloid presence did not show increased depression or memory complaints but did experience a decrease in anxiety and motivation for lifestyle adjustments.
According to Michal Schnaider Beeri, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at Rutgers Brain Health Institute, the findings suggest that disclosing amyloid presence does not negatively affect participants. Simply knowing their results seems to decrease negative feelings overall. This study highlights the importance of personalized disclosure processes and emphasizes the need for strategies to sustain healthy behaviors aimed at maintaining cognitive health.
As preventive therapies for Alzheimer’s disease become more prevalent, individuals will likely undergo screening with Alzheimer’s biomarkers to qualify for targeted treatments. Understanding how individuals respond to disclosure and optimizing the disclosure process will be crucial in the era of preventive Alzheimer’s disease therapies. The researchers stress the significance of maintaining motivation for lifestyle changes, especially in the context of future Alzheimer’s treatments.
This study provides valuable insights into the emotional responses of individuals to learning their Alzheimer’s risk and underscores the importance of promoting healthy lifestyle changes for cognitive health. As research in this field continues to evolve, personalized approaches to Alzheimer’s risk disclosure and lifestyle interventions will play a key role in preventing and managing the disease.
For more information, refer to the study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia in 2025. This research was conducted by a collaboration between the Sheba Medical Center in Israel and the Rutgers Brain Health Institute.
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This article is based on the study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia in 2025. The original content can be found at https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-alzheimer-ease-anxiety-healthy-habits.html.
