DNA test for health

[Fandango]

Does it make sense to get a DNA test (23andme.com, etc) to determine the probabilities of potential diseases, etc?

Just like to know what you think

Thanks

[sholomar]

It can tell you some interesting things such as whether you have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. There's definitely a genetic component to some diseases and the more time goes on the more we'll be able to narrow down just about everything that's programmed into our species by analyzing the computer code known as DNA.  It doesn't do any harm to get it done. It's all about whether you want to spend the money.

[OmniNaut]

Be careful with this

 

https://cglife.com/blog/23andme-sold-your-genetic-data-to-gsk-personalized-medicine-ethics/

23andme is already actively selling your DNA data to other companies. And they claim it's legal because it's in their disclaimer.

Also be aware that is not only your data, but also data from your family. If at some point insurance companies start to deny people for certain treatment because of DNA profiling and they use your data to not treat your mom or dad, with all the shit we see companies do it's not out of the realm of possibilities.
This is just one potential example. 

Edited November 15, 2023 by OmniNaut

[flowboy]

Does not make sense in my opinion.

What would you do if your genetic profile shows an increased risk for diabetes?

You would try to eat healthy, minimize sugar intake and minimize blood sugar spikes.

Perhaps take metformin if you're a biohacker type.

But: you should do that anyway if you're into health. Don't need the test for that.

[Fandango]

Just wanted to do a follow-up on this topic.

I’ve seen lots of discussions about ancestry reports, etc., but honestly that’s BS.

The real value is downloading the raw DNA data (.txt file): a plain text file containing your genotype (hundreds of thousands of genetic markers/SNPs) from one of these commercial tests (23andMe, Ancestry, MyHeritage, etc.) and asking a good AI to analyze it so you get useful health insights, for example:

Heart disease risk: If you have a higher genetic risk, you might decide to check LDL, ApoB or Lipoprotein(a) much earlier and keep cholesterol under tighter control.

Iron overload (hemochromatosis): Common in people of European ancestry. Knowing about it early means a simple blood test can prevent liver, heart and joint damage.

Vitamin and nutrient metabolism: Variants affecting vitamin D, B12, folate, omega-3 metabolism, etc., which can help decide what blood tests or supplements are actually worth taking.

Cancer predisposition: Commercial tests won’t diagnose hereditary cancers, but they can sometimes reveal variants that justify discussing earlier screening (colonoscopy, prostate checks, skin exams, etc.) with your doctor.

Type 2 diabetes: If your genetic risk is higher, you may want to monitor HbA1c regularly and be more proactive with diet and body weight.

Drug metabolism: Some variants affect how you process common medications, which can be useful information for your doctor in the future.

Exercise and recovery: Genes linked to muscle performance, tendon injuries, recovery and inflammation may help explain why some people recover slower or are more injury-prone.

Caffeine metabolism: Some people metabolize caffeine much more slowly, meaning coffee can have a bigger impact on sleep and even cardiovascular risk.

It’s obviously not a diagnosis, and lifestyle is still far more important than genetics. But for the price of a commercial DNA test, I think the raw DNA file is by far the most valuable part, especially now that AI can explain what those variants actually mean and, more importantly, what practical actions you can take to improve your health and longevity.

I bet @Leo Gura has done something like this long time ago.

 

Edited July 28 by Fandango

[PsychedelicEagle]

You go to more serious lab tests and perform genetic panels.

There are generic genetic panels but also genetic panels focus on particular groups of diseases, such as autoimmune, cardiovascular, etc. These will usually scan your DNA with "higher resolution" — pardon my shallow understanding.

These panels are more comprehensive than the test performed by 23andme, AFAIA.

I have performed some and I plan on performing a more generic genetic test in the near future to get such type of information. I think there is value to that long-term. For example, if you discover you have the APOE alleles, you are more likely to have Alzheimer's disease. That could guide some lifestyle choices.