The Science Of Alzheimer’s Mirror™

This section helps you understand the science behind Alzheimer’s Mirror™. Alzheimer’s Mirror™ is a revolutionary Alzheimer’s disease genetic risk assessment based on the results of government funded research studies. The two most influential research studies are summarized below:

MIRAGE: The Multi-Institutional Research in Alzheimer’s Genetic Epidemiology (MIRAGE) study has been funded by the National Institute of Aging (NIA) since 1990 and has demonstrated that genetic factors play a major role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Its research has identified the APOE ε4 allele as the strongest genetic risk factor. MIRAGE continues to evaluate genetic and non-genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, it is exploring whether risk factors for vascular disease also serve as contributing risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.

Findings to Date:

APOE ε4 is the strongest identifiable risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease
Depression in early life is a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease
Statin medications may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
Ethnicity may play a role in susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease

REVEAL: The Risk Evaluation and Education for Alzheimer’s Disease (REVEAL) study is a clinical trial funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and National Institute on Aging (NIA) based at Boston University’s School of Medicine. The goal of REVEAL is to provide healthy adults with genetic susceptibility testing and information about their chances of developing Alzheimer's disease. Participants in this study are pre-screened to make sure they were able to cope psychologically and that they do not have any psychological problems or early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, such as memory problems.

Information from the REVEAL Study was used to determine whether or not it is beneficial to educate people about their genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Select Findings:

Most participants viewed genetic testing as providing valuable information that could help direct future health care decisions and meet their emotional concerns about living at increased risk. Participants related their motivation for genetic testing to their worries about developing AD, preference to seek information about health threats, and need to feel in control of their health.ⁱ

Preliminary data from REVEAL suggests that:

Disclosing APOE status and its association with Alzheimer’s risk to participants did not result in a clinically significant increase in anxiety or depression
Participants who discovered they had the high risk APOE ε4 allele proved more likely to be proactive in changing their lifestyles and planning for long-term care.
A majority of participants reported that information learned through the REVEAL made a positive impact on their lives (67% positive vs. 17% negative)
Participants were more likely to report lower, rather than higher, anxiety about Alzheimer’s disease as result of being tested (43% lower vs. 11% higher).

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ⁱGooding et al; Genetic susceptibility testing for Alzheimer disease: Motivation to obtain information and control as precursors to coping with increased risk; Patient Education and Counseling;Volume 64, Issues 1-3, December 2006, Pages 259-267