Embryo genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease

'Currently there is no justification for testing embryos for predominantly later life neurological conditions.

It is certainly too soon to say whether preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can be used to screen for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, especially as the role of genetics in the development of dementia is not fully understood.

However, we support public discussion on the implications of developing this technique in the future as long as people are made fully aware of the uncertainties surrounding the link between genetics and dementia.

Fewer than five per cent of people with dementia have a strong family history of early onset dementia. Even if someone does have a genetic predisposition to developing early onset dementia, there is currently no way to gauge the severity of dementia the person may develop. The link between genetic factors and dementia in older people is even more unclear.

Furthermore, it should not be presumed that just because someone develops dementia they do not have a quality of life.

We are still a long way from embryo testing being a useful reality. We hope that before then we are able to develop better treatments for dementia, with the aim of finding a cure.'

Clive Ballard
Director of research