Abstract

In recent years, the Alzheimer disease (AD) field has seen significant advancements, including the development of blood-based biomarker (BBBM) tests for risk assessment and the approval of new disease-modifying therapies. These innovations are rapidly reshaping the landscape of clinical care. However, public understanding and attitudes toward these developments remain unclear. To address this gap, the present study used a vignette-based, cross-sectional survey grounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM) to examine older adults’ awareness, knowledge, and anticipated reactions to BBBM testing and novel AD treatments. A nationally representative sample of 450 adults (aged 55+) in terms of race, ethnicity, and gender identity completed the survey. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions (High Risk, Intermediate Risk, Low Risk, Control), each presented with varying levels of hypothetical AD risk and with information on new therapies. Results suggested that although general awareness of these clinical advancements was low, participants reported high levels of interest in them. Moreover, exposure to higher hypothetical risk levels elicited heightened psychological distress and stronger intention to make behavioral changes. However, information about available treatments appeared to reduce the perceived threat of AD. Finally, consistent with the HBM, perceptions of susceptibility, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy significantly predicted willingness to pursue BBBM testing and treatment, as well as anticipated behavioral and emotional responses to risk information. These findings offer important insights into how emerging AD innovations might be effectively integrated into clinical practice and communicated to the public.

Committee Chair

Brian Carpenter

Committee Members

Brian Gordon; Denise Head; Jessica Mozersky; Patrick Hill

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Author's Department

Psychology

Author's School

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

6-20-2025

Language

English (en)

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Psychology Commons

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