Research in Alzheimer disease (AD) is required to advance knowledge for the
ultimate goal of finding a cure or prevention and to improve care for pers
ons with AD and their caregivers. All research needs to be planned and cond
ucted ethically, but research in AD has many ethical issues to consider due
to the diminished cognitive capacity of potential subjects and genetic tes
ting for AD. This paper describes the development of guidelines for ethical
research, applying ethical principles to issues in human subjects research
, and ethical issues in AD research. Important ethical questions must be ad
dressed in AD research and basic moral and professional values will certain
ly be tested as the state of the science improves and research on AD, espec
ially research involving genetic testing for the disease, becomes more acce
ptable and available.