Knowing your demise
 

There's a hugely interesting, and heartbreaking, article in the New York Times (article--login required) today. A synopsis is that there is a definitive genetic test that one can take in order to know if one will develop Huntington's Disease. which, as I understand it, typically develops near middle age and previously was largely tracked, probabalistically, through family history. I can't imagine what it's like to live with that knowledge, or anything approximating it--knowing specifically about your remaining life and how you will lose it. I don't know if I would have the courage to have the test done.

Re: Knowing your demise
 

My gf asked me this question the other day. I decided that I couldn't do it, but I would feel like I would have to if I was going to have children. Thankfully there is no family history, so I won't have to worry about it.

Re: Knowing your demise
 

One of my core life theories is that Knowledge Is Never Bad To Have. This seems like a nice test of that belief!

Re: Knowing your demise
 

Some say that Death is always waiting to tap you on the shoulder and may choose to do so at any moment. According to them, if you are always aware of this, your actions will have more purpose.

This sounds a lot like a way to induce that state of mind.

For me, if I tested and it turned out I would have Huntington's, I would probably stop thinking about it after a while.

Re: Knowing your demise
 

I would absolutely want to know

Re: Knowing your demise
 

If I thought I was at risk for Huntington's I would definitely take the test.

Re: Knowing your demise
 

If you found out one of your partners was HIV+, would you get tested?

Re: Knowing your demise
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you found out one of your partners was HIV+, would you get tested?

[/ QUOTE ]

At first I was a little put-off by this analogy but it's a fair one.

Daver - interesting article, thanks for linking.

-Al

Re: Knowing your demise
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you found out one of your partners was HIV+, would you get tested?

[/ QUOTE ]

Bad analogy. I test positive for HIV and what do I do? Replace HIV with Huntington's.

Re: Knowing your demise
 

Daver - donate to Huntington's foundations, stay on top of the news, monitor developments, go through every available experimental therapy...?

-Al