No Negative Psychological Impact Seen for Disclosing Aβ Status

FRIDAY, May 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Disclosure of amyloid-β (Aβ) status seems not have a negative psychological impact, according to a study published online May 7 in Alzheimer”s & Dementia.

Sapir Golan Shekhtman, from Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, and colleagues examined emotional responses to Aβ status disclosure in cognitively normal individuals. To assess anxiety and depression associated with an elevated result, subjective memory complaints, and motivation for risk-reduction behavior, questionnaires were administered before and six months after disclosure of Aβ positron emission tomography (PET) results. Data were included for 199 cognitively normal adults.

The researchers observed reductions in all emotional parameters in association with nonelevated Aβ status disclosure relative to baseline. No changes in depression or memory complaints were seen in association with elevated Aβ disclosure, while there was a modest decrease in anxiety and motivation to change lifestyle.

“Our findings suggest no psychological harm in elevated and nonelevated Aβ PET scan status disclosure, strengthening findings from previous studies,” the authors write. “The decrease in motivation to implement lifestyle changes after the disclosure of elevated or nonelevated Aβ status warns against false reassurance during the disclosure process.”

Abstract/Full Text