HopefullyOptimistic wrote: ↑Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:17 am
Hi all,
...I've done a ton of research myself these past few days after discovering my 3/4 genotype. I'm writing just for catharsis and support. From what I've read thus far this place is nothing but supportive and has done wonders to assuage my existential dread.
I recently had genetic testing done for reproduction and overall health and I requested to see what sort of predisposition I had to AD. Maybe that was a bad idea because I am now completely consumed with the news and re-considering if I even want to have children....
... My dad's parents however both lived into their 80s....
On my mom's side there is no history of AD. My maternal grandparents lived until 87 and 89.
...
My approach ...
I don't really have a question per se, just would love some support and some words of wisdom from the older Apoe4s here who have lived full and happy lives and are still managing their cognition into their 70s....
A belated welcome, HopefullyOptimistic!
I one of those people you wanted to hear from, with two copies of ApoE4, 70 years old, who is looking forward to adding many more years of marriage to my inexhaustibly patient husband of 42 years (who rarely gets to tell a complete story without me excitedly offering some comment), our three wonderful ApoE 3/4 adult children (close in age to you) and our two grandchildren. And I have not been a perfect lifestyle practitioner for 70 years! What I do have, and you have also, is a family history of some people who made it into their 80's and 90's with normal cognition, a personal history of never being a big drinker, and rarely drinking now, keeping my glucose in a good range as measured by an HbA1c test, insulin resistance good (another OTC blood test) inflammation low (C-reactive protein test). We all have factors in our genes and in our environments that can dial down our risk. Finding where yours might be higher or lower with some of the blood tests/biomarkers recommended by Dr. Stavia in her
Primer Appendix:Biomarkers and maybe using some
Direct to Consumer Lab Testing Options will give you peace of mind, I'm predicting. It can also be the start of a yearly "check-up" on areas you want to monitor.
The risk of ApoE 3/4 for a diagnosis of EITHER mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia by the age of 85 (the average life span for someone my age in the US today) is estimated at 20-25%; your risk, as someone who has decades of healthy habits to build on, is almost certainly well under that. I quoted above from the healthy family history you have; because looking only at those in your family who struggled with alcoholism is no more relevant to you than looking at the history of your ancestors who might have had farm injuries, or lived in smog-ridden cities.
You are not them! Enjoy having a life filled with purpose, joy and hope--from someone whose "signature" says we're both hopeful people!
Nancy