In order for a voluntary eugenics scheme to work, the trait must be genetically heritable. What evidence is there that Alzheimer’s is strongly genetically heritable? If there was a gene for Alzheimers, we could perform genetic testing and then implement the scheme you described. Personally, I’m pretty skeptical that this is a good use of money, for a few reasons.
As you said, the majority of suffers of Alzheimers are over 65. That means that it will take a minimum of 65 years for this scheme to start having any big effects. Over such timelines, I think it’s plausible that there are more powerful technologies on the horizon. For instance, rather than focus on old-fashioned Eugenics, why not push for genetic engineering as a solution to Alzheimers?
You’re absolutely right, Alzheimer’s is a bad example. My intention was to show that an alternative strategy of this kind may exist for ‘curing’ certain diseases.
In order for a voluntary eugenics scheme to work, the trait must be genetically heritable. What evidence is there that Alzheimer’s is strongly genetically heritable? If there was a gene for Alzheimers, we could perform genetic testing and then implement the scheme you described. Personally, I’m pretty skeptical that this is a good use of money, for a few reasons.
As you said, the majority of suffers of Alzheimers are over 65. That means that it will take a minimum of 65 years for this scheme to start having any big effects. Over such timelines, I think it’s plausible that there are more powerful technologies on the horizon. For instance, rather than focus on old-fashioned Eugenics, why not push for genetic engineering as a solution to Alzheimers?
You’re absolutely right, Alzheimer’s is a bad example. My intention was to show that an alternative strategy of this kind may exist for ‘curing’ certain diseases.