Obseity and Heredity

Some people may be more likely to become obese than others. Some studies have suggested that heredity plays a part in weight. The World Health Organization claims that obesity is now the leading cause of illness in the US. The GAD2 gene, which is the glutamic acid decarboxylase gene, was one of the first to be found with association of obesity and eating behaviors in obese adults. However, they could not successfully repeat the study, so it is not truly known if this gene is involved. The GHSR, which is the growth hormone secretagogue receptor has been associated with common obesity and rare familial short stature/obesity syndrome. Epigenetics have also been looked at for a key factor in obesity. Prader-Willi and Angelman syndrome are due to variations in genomic imprinting at the proximal long arm of chromosome 15. Predisposition of obesity leads to other diseases associated with obesity, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, high cholesterol, and many more. Data also leads to the information suggesting that cultures who have ancestral history of poverty have been found to be obese. Many genes have also been studied that effect appetite.

Genes may very well play a major part in obesity. The kind of food that is available or affordable may also be a reason that certain areas are at higher risk of obesity and disease. I believe that most over weight individuals are a product of what they eat, mainly what is available for them to eat. But in some cases it may also be multiple genetic traits that lead to adult obesity.
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Personalized Nutrition Based on Genetic Testing

       Researchers from the University of Toronto find that a specific diet based on genetic makeup has a positive impact on eating habits versus a standard diet tailored for all bodies. The study looked at intake of caffeine, sodium, vitamin C, and sugar from about 150 healthy young adults, who were separated based on receiving DNA-based diet advice or a standard one. Improvements in diet were successful in patients given DNA diet advice. Specifically, improvements occurred in those made aware that they carry a version of a gene associated with salt intake and high blood pressure and resulted in a reduction in sodium intake. Metabolic genes that affect specific components of the diet should be further studied to help humans on a much deeper and effective level.
          This approach to nutrition makes a lot of sense if you think about it. We are all made up of different DNA and different genes, therefore it makes sense to alter changes in diet based on what is beneficial for our own bodies. I would be personally interested in seeing myself how I could improve my diet by getting my own genes looked it as I believe others would as well.

Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/285505.php

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Epidemic

      

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

                 A.D.H.D. medications were in short supply from the fall of 2011 to the spring of 2012 throughout the United States. This shortage was due to the supply being outpaced by the request for the medication. Prior to the 1990’s, less than 5% of school-aged children were thought to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 11% of adolescences from the ages of 4 to 17 had received the news that they had A.D.H.D.; this 11% does not include the adult population. This shows that the number of children diagnosed with A.D.H.D has skyrocketed over the past 20 years.

A.D.H.D. Medications

                For many years people felt that A.D.H.D. was a made up disorder. Yet, facts have shown that A.D.H.D. is a genetic based disease. The way that scientist determine if specific behaviors and traits are genetically based are by comparing twins. Identical twins share almost 100% of the same genes, while fraternal twins share about half of their genes. This shows that if a disorder is genetically based, the identical twins have a higher chance of sharing it than the fraternal twins. Researchers at Michigan State University, in 2010, studied 22 different twins and established that the traits of hyperactivity and inattentiveness are greatly inheritable. Also, studies that use brain-imaging, display dissimilarities between people who were diagnosed with A.D.H.D. and people who were not. These images show that people with A.D.H.D. have less receptors for chemical messenger dopamine in specific regions. This would cause the brain to not function to its highest abilities.

Brain Imaging of Non-ADHD and ADHD patients.

 

            Since so many children and adults are diagnosed with A.D.H.D. the increase in medications has raised. New medications are being produced and more medications are being distributed. The genetic disorder A.D.H.D. affects the lives of many people, especially children. Now knowing about this disease had opened up the door to improvement for it. Children are now receiving the assistance that they need to become focused and do well in school. There are therapists for them to talk to, there is access to tutors, and time modifications for standardized testing. Also, there is a drug treatment for this disease. People are beginning to realize that this is not a disease that is just made up and people do suffer from this. It really makes a difference to do the studies and find out where this disease comes from and how you can resolve the problem.

             To me many children do have A.D.H.D. and they need for it to be taken care of. It distracts them from the things that they need to do and accomplish in life. It can be the difference if they do good in school and obtain and retain an education. Knowing the it is a genetic disease does help figure out how they can fix the problem and make medication to fix the problem. I do believe that people do abuse the used of A.D.H.D. medications and that does need to be looked into. Though many people are diagnosed with A.D.H.D. I do not feel that they all have the disease.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/magazine/the-not-so-hidden-cause-behind-the-adhd-epidemic.html?_r=0

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-genetics-of-adhd/0003789