Is it Possible to Predict Your Odds for Getting a Commonly Known Illness?

According to researchers, now you can! An article that was recently posted by Dennis Thompson from HealthDay on February 20th stated that a gene-based test might be able to predict the possibility of your odds of getting some commonly known illnesses.

Currently, there are ten gene tests or scans that can be done that show the probability of an individual getting a certain illness. Some of the illnesses that can be tested are high cholesterol, asthma, obesity, kidney disease, heart disease, prostate cancer, type one and two diabetes, and even atrial fibrillation.

These tests are in their testing phase in clinical research in ten academic medical centers across the nation of the United States. For this study and testing, 25,000 participants have taken part and allowed researchers to identify as well as verify the precise spots on the genome to assess the probability of the tested illness and create an overall risk score. Currently, most of the participants are of European descent but researchers are widening their evidence to be able to review participants of different genetic ancestry.

The main goal for these researchers is to locate risks of illnesses that can be treated so they aren't giving people results of something they could do nothing about. This allows those who do have a higher risk for a particular illness to get preventative treatment so it does not become a threatening issue in the future.

This is going to be something amazing in the future! I believe that if this continues to be successful and yields accurate results, these tests are going to be in every hospital.  Since these tests target common treatable illnesses, they will overall improve the quality of life of many in the long run and prevent people from being in and out of hospitals, reduce the need for prescriptions, and more. Hopefully, once these ten tests are perfected, there can be new tests that follow for other common and maybe not-so-common illnesses.

Sources:

(News article) https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-02-20/gene-based-tests-could-predict-your-odds-for-common-illnesses

(Scientific article) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-02796-z

(Image) https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1334095553/photo/scientist-pipetting-sample-into-a-vial-for-dna-testing.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=2VMZv9ozZtNbZGreavUn5m9ynUA68AE13Rpj6eqZHC4=

The Dark Cloud Around Genetic Testing

Thanks to advances in medical science over the years, doctors and patients are now able to rely on genetic tests to determine the occurrence of an array of medical issues. Genetic tests allow doctors to test the likelihood that an unborn child has a medical condition such as Down Syndrome or Edwards syndrome, or if a woman has a high risk for developing breast cancer. However, according to the New England Center for Investigative Reporting (NECIR), many of these genetic tests run a high percentage of false positives.

In the USA alone, there are over 13,000 genetic tests available. However, none of these genetic tests are required to prove to the FDA that the tests are accurate. For example, in a 2014 study by the New England Journal of Medicine, one prenatal genetic test on the market for Edwards syndrome, was found to be accurate only 40% of the time!

Inaccurate results can not only cause extreme emotional trauma, but can also lead to improper diagnoses and unnecessary treatments. In regards to prenatal testing, a patient who learns that their unborn child might have Edwards syndrome or Down syndrome may choose to end the pregnancy. According to a NECIR investigation, every false positive was found to, on average, cost the patient $775,278 worth of unnecessary treatment.

It is important to note that most of these genetic tests are done under the advisory of a genetic counselor, who is a trained medical professional that helps families select the right tests and decide on what to do with those test results. However, according to the NECIR, this is where another problem has recently begun to develop. Unlike with other healthcare professionals, companies are not required by federal law to report payments to genetic counselors. As a result, there is no real way of knowing if a particular genetic counselor has a conflict of interest with a certain test/company.

The way I see it, the FDA really needs to step in, and regulators must crack down on both genetic testing companies and genetic counselors. There should be mandatory guidelines and quality control tests that these genetic tests need to pass to be used, as well as including genetic counselors on the list of healthcare professionals that companies must report payments to. By doing the above, genetic tests will become more accurate, lead to more productive and true outcomes, and keep the evils of business out of the science. 

http://www.popsci.com/theres-no-guarantee-that-genetic-tests-are-accuratehttp://features.necir.org/genetic-counselors-independence 

Genetic Tests do not appear to Improve Control of Blood Thinners

When administering the blood thinner warfarin, patients need to be administered the proper dose. If too much is given there is a risk of internal bleeding and on the other hand too little and there is a risk of developing blood clots. There is a delicate balance when using blood thinners therefore patients are monitored closely when taking them. A genetic test is done to test two genes. One of the genes influences how the liver metabolizes warfarin, and the other is about how the body responds to the blood thinner. A recent study, done by the Clarification of Optimal Anticoagulation through Genetics, looked at patients on warfarin from 2009-2013. This study was done dividing patients into two groups. The first group’s warfarin dosage was determined by clinical information such as weight, age and smoking status. The second group was given a dosage based on genetic testing and this clinical information. They found that genetic testing played no role in determining proper dosage. Furthermore it was found that in African Americans in the study had conditions worsen six months after original diagnosis when their dosage was determined by genetic testing. Previously, no clinical trials were conducted before having this genetic test widely used. This new finding has doctors bringing up the question “Should genetic tests be required before clinical use?” 

Links:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269141.php

Related Links:

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/521861/genetic-testing-falls-flat-in-large-patient-drug-trials/

http://news.uic.edu/genetic-test-will-help-dose-blood-thinner