Description:

Interest in the genetics of dementia has increased with the availability of new treatments and clinical trials. This presentation will review the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease and Frontotemporal dementia. We will then discuss reasons, implications, and the process for testing someone with dementia as well as testing relatives who are at risk for inheriting a dementia-related gene. Making the decision to have genetic testing requires careful thought.

About the Presenter:

Jill Goldman is a Professor of Genetic Counseling in Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center. She has specialized in hereditary neurological diseases such as FTD, Prion disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease.  She is on the faculty of the Columbia University Master’s Program in Genetic Counseling. Additionally, she leads a support group for caregivers of people with frontotemporal dementia. She also created and coordinates “A Friend for Rachel”, a companionship program in which people with early to moderate dementia are paired with Columbia pre-medical students. Ms. Goldman has authored many papers and book chapters including: “Genetic counseling and testing for Alzheimer disease: joint practice guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors” (Genet Med. 2011). She is the editor of the textbook: Genetic Counseling for Adult Neurogenetic Disease: A Casebook for Clinicians, Springer, 2015. Ms. Goldman is an emeritus member of the medical advisory council of the Association for Frontotemporal Dementia (AFTD) Board and  presently an AFTD Board of Director,  and Chair of the Advisory Board for the Columbia University Genetic Counseling Master’s Program.