Athletes avoiding genetic test for concussion risks despite potential benefits

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[The new APOE test is] an easy genetic test that promises to identify which young athletes are likely to suffer the most severe consequences from a concussion. The idea is to nudge those kids away from contact sports…

“Isn’t it just better to know than to not know?” one gene testing company asked…Another urged: “Learn the risks. Make confident choices.”

Not many athletes are interested in getting tested…[People are] expressing qualms about giving athletes…unsettling news about the risks lurking in their genes…[especially] for Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

Elite athletes aren’t jumping at the chance to get tested either…Some athletes said they were uneasy about learning more about their Alzheimer’s risk; others said they wouldn’t change their behavior no matter what the genetic tests showed.

[Dr. Ben] Galyardt isn’t concerned about advocating the testing before the science is fully understood.

“We have to start somewhere,” Galyardt said, “and this is the dialogue that needs to be created to protect the NFL and to save contact sports.”

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Athletes are keeping their distance from a genetic test for concussion risks

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