Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Cognition, Economic Behavior, and Clinically Actionable Information

Yeongmi Jeong; Nicholas W Papageorge; Meghan Skira; Kevin Thom

doi:10.3386/w32181

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Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Cognition, Economic Behavior, and Clinically Actionable Information

Working paper

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Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Cognition, Economic Behavior, and Clinically Actionable Information

Yeongmi Jeong, Nicholas W Papageorge, Meghan Skira and Kevin Thom

NBER working paper series, Vol.32181

National Bureau of Economic Research

03/2024

DOI: 10.3386/w32181

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Abstract

Genetic factors play a major role in the development of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Observable genetic factors could impact household planning and medical care if they contain actionable information, meaning that they i) are associated with significant harms, ii) reflect risks for which individuals are not already prepared, and iii) are informative above and beyond current knowledge or expectations. We examine these properties for existing genetic measures related to ADRD in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We replicate existing relationships between genetic factors and cognitive health. We also show that higher genetic risk is associated with worse economic outcomes on several dimensions including work, income, and wealth. Surprisingly, individuals at higher risk are less likely to engage in planning activities that could mitigate the consequences of cognitive decline (e.g. assigning durable power of attorney). In predictive exercises, existing genetic indices provide clinically valuable and policy-relevant information on the development of severe adverse cognitive outcomes in the future. Our findings suggest there is a large population of individuals at genetic risk for ADRD who are not protected from cognitive decline despite genetic risk, not insulated from its economic consequences, and relatively unprepared to deal with possible burdens of future ADRD.

Health Behavior

Personal Finance

Economics of Disability

Economics of the Elderly

Health and Inequality

Household Saving

Household Saving, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth

Insurance

Non-Labor Market Discrimination

Retirement

Retirement Policies

Time Allocation and Labor Supply

Details

Title: Subtitle: Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Cognition, Economic Behavior, and Clinically Actionable Information
Creators: Yeongmi Jeong
Nicholas W Papageorge
Meghan Skira
Kevin Thom
Resource Type: Working paper
Publication Details: NBER working paper series, Vol.32181
DOI: 10.3386/w32181
ISSN: 0898-2937
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research; Cambridge, Massachusetts
Number of pages: 80 pages
Language: English
Date posted: 03/2024
Date updated: 06/2024
Academic Unit: Economics
Record Identifier: 9984937787302771

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