A nurse is caring for an older adult man who has Alzheimer disease (AD). The patient's daughter wants to know if testing can be done to determine her risk for developing the disease. What will the nurse tell her?

A. Genetic testing cannot provide a definitive prediction of Alzheimer disease (AD). While certain genes, such as APOE E4, are associated with increased risk, having the gene does not guarantee that someone will develop AD. Therefore, testing is not a definitive measure of personal risk. B. The APOE E2 allele is actually protective against Alzheimer disease. The allele associated with higher risk is APOE E4, not E2. C. Although women have a slightly higher prevalence of AD—partly due to longer life expectancy—gender alone is not a primary determinant of individual risk compared with age and family history. D. Advancing age is the strongest known risk factor for AD, and having a first-degree relative with the disease increases an individual’s likelihood of developing it. These factors are well-established and are what the nurse should communicate to family members seeking risk information.