Would You Want To Know?

I was only a teenager when my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and, unfortunately, I didn't really make the connection that it would possibly affect me later in life.  My dad is one of four children, so the fact that he has now been diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer's perhaps means that his siblings won the genetic lottery, at least for the time being.

After my dad's appointment with his specialist last week, my mom shared that the doctor had mentioned genetic testing.  While it wouldn't be anything definitive, if my brother and/or I are interested in being tested, he would be willing to set it up for us.

Since the diagnosis last fall, it's been little more than a fleeting thought that perhaps one day, it could happen to me.  Now that it's been thrown out there - I honestly don't know how I feel about the possibility of getting a glimpse at what my future holds.  Especially because of the HUGE disclaimer that comes with it.  There is still so much that is unknown about Alzheimer's, nothing is definite.  You could have the gene for it and never develop the disease, while there are plenty who don't have a family history and yet wind up with it anyway.  So no matter what the results, there would always be a big question mark hanging over them.  

So, the question becomes - would you want to know?  Would you want to know that you either have or don't have certain genetic factors that might possibly lead to developing this terrible disease at some point?  What would be gained by finding out?  Would it change the course of your life?  Is it better to always wonder, or to know, while always second guessing the results?

At this point, I really haven't made up my mind.  Part of me is curious, but the other part of me realizes that it's a bell that you can't un-ring.  I'm being offered a peek into a crystal ball, but if I can't trust the information, what is the point?  Perhaps ignorance is bliss and I'm better off living my life, and jumping off that bridge if/when I come to it.