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Downsides: What matters most to you?
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Genetic testing can bring up difficult emotions for you and your loved ones.
While some people find clarity and relief in learning about their genetic risk, others would rather not know. If you find out that you have a higher risk of developing ALS or a related condition, it can be hard to cope with that knowledge.
Genetic testing may not always be able to give you a clear answer about whether you will develop ALS or a related condition in the future. Even if your test results show that you’re likely to develop ALS or a related condition, there’s no way to find out exactly when you may develop the disease.
Genetic testing can be expensive, but your health insurance likely will cover some or all of the cost. You can also ask your genetic counselor about programs that provide genetic testing at no cost for people with a family history of ALS and related conditions.
While the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) offers some legal protection, it’s still possible that you could experience discrimination based on your genetic testing results. For example, some companies might deny your application for life, long-term care, or disability insurance.
