Moving Towards Ethical-Practical Recommendations for Alzheimer's Disease Prediction: Addressing Interindividual,...

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Advancing biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) prediction necessitate ethical guidelines.
• Existing ethical frameworks require integration to address the socio-ethical concerns of healthy and at-risk individuals.
• Cross-cultural perspectives are crucial for developing universally applicable ethical standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a multi-layered ethical approach for the implementation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers.
• To integrate empirical, cross-cultural findings into ethical considerations at micro, meso, and macro levels.
• To examine ethical challenges in AD prediction using biomarkers, informed by a German-Israeli comparison.

Main Methods:

• Development of a three-level ethical framework (micro, meso, macro) addressing communication, interprofessional cooperation, and public health.
• Integration of established ethical concepts: beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, informational self-determination, empowerment, and justice.
• Analysis of empirical, cross-cultural data from a German-Israeli comparison to inform ethical recommendations.

Main Results:

• The proposed ethical approach addresses information needs and socio-ethical concerns for individuals undergoing AD biomarker testing.
• The framework facilitates person-centered care through enhanced interprofessional cooperation.
• It promotes ethical public health promotion and responsible media representation of AD biomarker research.

Conclusions:

• A procedural, adaptable ethical framework is proposed to guide the responsible implementation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers.
• Continuous adaptation is necessary to address evolving technologies, algorithms, and culturally varying practices.
• The approach encourages transdisciplinary discussion beyond clinical counseling to encompass public health and research contexts.