Ethical issues in dementia

Abstract

Public debate on dementia has intensified recently with scientific advances being scrutinised in the media, the genetics of Alzheimer's disease regularly portrayed as inextricably linked with the personal agony of whether to have ‘the test’ (which exists only for a small number of people) and the announcement by ex US President Ronald Reagan that he suffers from the disease. Several different areas provoke interest and speculation and this brief article attempts to highlight some, based on a recent meeting on the subject.