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Morgan: Why I got DNA tested for Alzheimer's

Updated: 2009-03-27 14:00:00 CST Category: DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing

A co-anchor for ABC's news program Nightline has shared his story about getting a DNA test to see if he had an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Terry Morgan explained to ABC News that he decided on the DNA test to do "something that would mark a personal and irrevocable commitment in my fight against Alzheimer's."

"Alzheimer's runs in my family; my mom died of the disease and so did my grandmother. Like millions of Americans, I know the pain of losing a loved one to Alzheimer's," Morgan wrote.

Morgan explained that his mother, Margaret Louise, developed the memory-robbing disease in her mid 60s and told the news provider he witnessed her "descend, in fear and rage, into the hell of forgetting and confusion."

While there is no cure for Alzheimer's, health experts have stated that early detection with a lab test can lead to lifestyle changes, such as a different diet or conducting memory tests, that can help slow the progression of the disease.

An estimated 5.2 million people in the U.S. are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. By 2030, it's estimated the number of individuals aged 65 and older with the disease will reach 7.7 million.

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