Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Among 3414 included individuals, the mean (SD) age was 68.8 (6.0) years and 2116 (62%) were female. Group mean IES scores were below clinically significant thresholds. Nevertheless, across genetic groups, learning an elevated amyloid result (1184 participants) was associated with higher IES (mean [SD], 10.5 [10.9]) than intermediate amyloid (482 participants; mean [SD] IES, 8.8 [9.8]), and intermediate amyloid was associated with higher scores than not-detected amyloid (1748 participants; mean [SD] IES, 6.5 [8.4]). Across amyloid groups, learning APOE ε4 homozygosity (337 participants) was associated with higher mean (SD) IES (12.7 [11.6]) than heterozygosity (1609 participants; 9.1 [10.2]), and heterozygosity was associated with higher IES than noncarrier status (1468 participants; mean [SD] IES, 6.2 [8.1]). Both types of information were significant in an analysis of covariance model; no interaction effect was observed. In contrast, only biomarker disclosure was associated with differential change in concerns about AD dementia. Those with elevated amyloid showed a mean (SD) increase in concern (0.8 [3.5]), those with intermediate amyloid showed a smaller increase (0.4 [3.7]), and those with not-detected amyloid showed decreased concerns (-1.1 [4.2]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of cognitively unimpaired adults, associations with intrusive thoughts were observed to differ among genetic and biomarker subgroups; such associations were limited to biomarker subgroups for measures of perceived dementia risk.
Key findings
- Among 3414 included individuals, the mean (SD) age was 68.8 (6.0) years and 2116 (62%) were female.
- Group mean IES scores were below clinically significant thresholds.
- Nevertheless, across genetic groups, learning an elevated amyloid result (1184 participants) was associated with higher IES (mean [SD], 10.5 [10.9]) than intermediate amyloid (482 participants; mean [SD] IES, 8.8 [9.8]), and intermediate amyloid was associated with higher scores than not-detected amyloid (1748 participants; mean [SD] IES, 6.5 [8.4]).
- Across amyloid groups, learning APOE ε4 homozygosity (337 participants) was associated with higher mean (SD) IES (12.7 [11.6]) than heterozygosity (1609 participants; 9.1 [10.2]), and heterozygosity was associated with higher IES than noncarrier status (1468 participants; mean [SD] IES, 6.2 [8.1]).
- Both types of information were significant in an analysis of covariance model; no interaction effect was observed.
Why it matters
Learning an elevated amyloid result or APOE ε4 homozygosity was linked to higher short-term intrusive thoughts, though group average distress scores stayed below clinically significant thresholds. The findings concern the psychological impact of disclosure and do not address treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer disease.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants1,184
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 63/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA Network Open) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | JAMA Network Open: journal h-index 235 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,184 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jason H. Karlawish: h-index 88 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 14 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41910973) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 63 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3845
- PubMed: 41910973
- Original source →
- Free full text: JAMA Network Open →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Grill, J. D., RAMAN, R. E. M. A., Wang, S., Ernstrom, K. B., Andrews, P., Appleby, B. S., et al. (2026). Amyloid Imaging and APOE Genotype Disclosure and Short-Term Psychological Distress. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3845
Vancouver
Grill JD, RAMAN REMA, Wang S, Ernstrom KB, Andrews P, Appleby BS, et al. Amyloid Imaging and APOE Genotype Disclosure and Short-Term Psychological Distress. JAMA Network Open. 2026. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3845. PMID: 41910973.
BibTeX
@article{grill2026-41910973,
author = {Grill, Joshua D. and RAMAN, REMA and Wang, Shunran and Ernstrom, Karin B. and Andrews, Patricia and Appleby, Brian Stephen and Bhangu, Jaspreet S. and Dhadda, Shobha and others},
title = {{Amyloid Imaging and APOE Genotype Disclosure and Short-Term Psychological Distress}},
journal = {JAMA Network Open},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3845},
pmid = {41910973},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3845}
}
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