APOE4 question
Should I tell my family and children that I carry APOE4, and how do I do it?
Carriers in our videos say these conversations need to happen, even when some relatives push back or change the subject. In a randomised study of 162 adults with a parent who had Alzheimer's, learning their APOE result caused no significant rise in anxiety or depression over the following year. Kevin and members suggest framing it around the changes you are making rather than fear, and not carrying it alone.
This is not medical advice. Phoenix educates. Your doctor decides what is right for you.
What the research and Kevin's videos say
What the research says
APOE4-specific evidence: yes
One randomised study found that learning your APOE result did not cause significant anxiety or depression over the following year, though people who learned they carry APOE4 felt more test-related distress than those who learned they do not; there is no research on how best to tell family.
Key studies
Green 2009, New England Journal of Medicine (REVEAL)
162 asymptomatic adults with a parent with Alzheimer's: learning their APOE result caused no significant change in anxiety, depression or test-related distress versus not learning it, over one year; APOE4-positive people had more test-related distress than APOE4-negative.
Read on PubMed (opens in a new tab)
What Kevin and experts say
Now showing: Dr. Kevin Tran · 16:42
Open on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Learning your status caused no lasting psychological harm when you have support.
“learning your status does not cause lasting psychological harm when you have support”
Dr. Kevin Tran, Founder of The Phoenix Community, Doctor of Pharmacy, APOE4/4 carrier
Have the family conversation, even if it is hard.
“we do have to have these conversations.”
Deb Blum, Phoenix member, APOE4/4 carrier, life coach and certified health coach
Donna told her daughters early because she wanted them to know.
“I think I told them fairly quickly because I wanted them to know.”
Donna Dorrance, Phoenix member and APOE4/4 carrier, aged 72
Family may not want to talk about Alzheimer's risk.
“Boy, that shut that down. Nobody wants to hear that at a family reunion.”
John Yoder, Phoenix member, retired physician, APOE3/4 carrier
Last reviewed