New AMYPAD article on the disclosure of amyloid-PET results to people with SCD

13/01/2023

People who are amyloid-positive with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and clinical features increasing the likelihood of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (SCD+) are at higher risk of developing dementia. Some people with SCD+ undergo amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) as part of research studies and frequently wish to know their amyloid status; however, the disclosure of a positive amyloid-PET result might have psychological risks. In order to assess the psychological outcomes of the amyloid-PET result disclosure in people with SCD+ and explore which variables are associated with a safer disclosure in people who are amyloid positive, a research team performed an add-on study on the disclosure of the amyloid-PET result. Participants were from memory clinics who underwent amyloid-PET as part of the AMYPAD Diagnostic and Patient Management Study (DPMS). A total of 105 participants with SCD+ of AMYPAD DPMS, who received their amyloid-PET results, participated in this study. Among them, 26% (27 of 105) were assessed as amyloid positive and 74% (78 of 105) as amyloid negative. Findings showed that the disclosure of a positive amyloid-PET result was associated with a greater psychological change, yet such changes did not reach the threshold for clinical concern. The article was published in the journal JAMA Network Open. Congratulations to all authors! You can read the published paper here.