Optimal Expectations and Limited Medical Testing: Evidence from Huntington Disease

We use novel data to study genetic testing among individuals at risk for Huntington disease (HD), a hereditary disease with limited life expectancy. Although genetic testing is perfectly predictive and carries little economic cost, presymptomatic testing is rare. Testing rates increase with increase...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe American economic review Vol. 103; no. 2; pp. 804 - 830
Main Authors Oster, Emily, Shoulson, Ira, Dorsey, E. Ray
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Nashville American Economic Association 01.04.2013
Subjects
Age
Behavior
Decision making
Disease models
Diseases
Economic models
Funding
Genetic disorders
Genetic engineering
Genetic mutation
Genetic testing
Health care
Health economics
Health risk assessment
Human genetics
Huntington disease
Huntingtons disease
Life expectancy
Medical genetics
Medical screening
Medical treatment
Pregnancy
Probability
Retirement
Studies
Symptoms
Utilities costs
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Summary:We use novel data to study genetic testing among individuals at risk for Huntington disease (HD), a hereditary disease with limited life expectancy. Although genetic testing is perfectly predictive and carries little economic cost, presymptomatic testing is rare. Testing rates increase with increases in ex ante risk of having HD. Untested individuals express optimistic beliefs about their health and make decisions (e.g., retirement) as if they do not have HD, even though individuals with confirmed HD behave differently. We suggest that these facts can be reconciled by an optimal expectations model (Brunnermeier and Parker 2005).
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ISSN:0002-8282
1944-7981
DOI:10.1257/aer.103.2.804