Sir - I am writing following the recent news that a test has been developed which could be used to detect the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and could distinguish whether a healthy person is likely to develop the disease within the next three years. The test is certainly a fantastic breakthrough for Alzheimer’s research, and could ultimately lead to the development of a treatment to halt or slow down the effects of the disease, but I believe in order for the test to have any effect, a treatment needs to be developed sooner rather than later.

Without the appropriate medicine or treatments in place at the current time, the test could prove distressing for those who are told they can, may or will develop the disease. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the five-year study was an analysis of 525 people over the age of 70, and, before the test can be rolled out in clinical practice, there is an absolute need for a test on a wider scale. If the test is offered to the general public, individuals need to be given the choice about whether they want to know, and fully understand the implications of a test that could predict the disease.

Dr Hannah MacKechnie

Radfield Home Care, Worcester