My mother has Alzheimer's, and I have the ApoE4 gene. Knowing is better.

The only other options are (a) knowing after it's too late to do anything, or (b) knowing at the exact moment science makes a discovery. Since we can't know (b) ahead of time, we're left with either knowing ahead of time, or too late.

Knowing sucks, but it sucks less than any other option.

The only counter argument to this I could imagine would be the one I often hear used for other brain abnormalities; i.e. if the knowledge of a potential health problem instigates a mental health issue, ignorance could be better.

I subscribe to your opinion, however.

Knowing ahead of time would allow you to make sure that you put your affairs in order well ahead of time, set up long term care options, restructure your investments and property holdings. I think the knowledge would be very valuable.

As well as increase your exercise, mental stimulation/effort, and social life, which have been shown to help reduce the effects of the disease. Not all people heading towards Alzheimer's will walk the same path. Not even close.

As mentioned above, the main benefit could be for the family members. When my grandmother was diagnosed it took our family completely by surpise. She lived in another state and my elderly grandfather was the only one around to take care of her.

Eventually, she had to be moved to a nursing center where the health care costs are astronomical.

Of course no one wants to hear this news early, but in terms of preparations that can be made by family members, the earlier the knowledge the better.

When a family member is struck with an illness it does not just affect the individual, but rather the whole family.

Maybe that is the benefit.

You can choose how you will end.