Overview

• Researchers studied 199 cognitively healthy adults with a family history of Alzheimer’s to assess emotional and behavioral responses to amyloid PET scan results.
• Participants without amyloid buildup reported reduced anxiety, depression, and memory concerns, while those with amyloid presence experienced decreased anxiety but no increased depression or memory complaints.
• Both high- and low-risk groups showed a decline in motivation to maintain dementia-reducing lifestyle habits after learning their amyloid status.
• The findings come as anti-amyloid therapies gain traction, emphasizing the need to refine risk communication to support sustained preventive health behaviors.
• Experts stress the importance of personalized disclosure protocols to ensure individuals remain proactive in reducing Alzheimer’s risk through modifiable lifestyle factors.