In a recent editorial (“Our View: Research only way to ease rising cost of Alzheimer’s,” Jan. 3), the argument was made that the only way to reduce the expected very high cost of Alzheimer’s disease is through research.

Unfortunately, there are several problems with this statement.

n Research may not solve the problem. Some cases of the disease are due to genes, and it may prove next to impossible to deter such effects.

n Even if some drug could be found to alleviate the problem, the cost of such a drug could be prohibitive. For example, the drug called Spinraza, which treats spinal muscular atrophy, will likely cost $375,000 a year for life. If used for 80 years, that works out to $30 million.

n It is in fact possible to prevent the genetic transmission of the disease, if those with the genes refrained from having children, or had an abortion in the case of a fetus carrying the genes. Such an approach may be viewed as distasteful by many, but it is nevertheless one possible solution to part of the problem.

n Descriptions of the stages of Alzheimer’s indicate that past a certain point in the development of the disease, a person may no longer exist as a person per se. Does it make sense to keep such beings alive at great cost?

We can all see the impending problems on the horizon, and it only makes sense to consider all options at our disposal, even if some of them are currently viewed with repugnance.

William Vaughan Jr.

Chebeague Island

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