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• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Genetic testing >> Genetic testing

Genetic testing

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• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 04 >> Says she would not have wanted testing when younger but might be interested now she has retired.

Distance care difficult as mother refused to accept help. Difficulty communicating with social services. Had to apply for a Court of Protection order to control her finances. Problems finding a suitable nursing home. She twice escaped.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 23 >> Cannot see the benefit of repeated testing if there is no preventative advice or treatment to offer people who are found to be at risk.

Has been able to cope with caring for him at home. He attends a day centre and he has regular respite care. Doesn't feel ready to consider full time residential care for him but has felt it necessary to look out for homes which might be suitable.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 22 >> A post-mortem may reveal fronto temporal dementia, with implications for her husband's children. She thinks it will be a very difficult decision for t

Was cared for at home until very recently when he was admitted to residential care. Before this he attended a day centre with residential respite every 6 weeks. Later was on Exelon but taken off when he developed side-effects.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 07 >> Is in favour of testing if early detection might allow for treatment that could slow the course of the disease.

Gradual onset mistaken for depression. Diagnosis given jointly to husband and wife. Slow progression. Problem with restlessness and wandering. Very involved with the local Alzheimers disease society. He tries to involve her in decisions where possible. Initially prescribed antidepressants later given trial of Reminyl. Later benifited from sedatives and sleeping tablets.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 11 >> Can see pros and cons to having a genetic test for dementia, just as she could for cancer

She managed for a time to care for her mother in her own home which was nearby but eventually had to agree to her going into a nursing home.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 08 >> Has changed his views about tests since looking after his wife. Is now planning a test for prostate cancer to reassure himself and his new partner.

He felt he had to fight to get the care she needed when she needed it. Indignant that medication was refused on grounds of cost but did persuade GP to give Aricept though he admits it didn't do her any good. Life is very lonely since she died.