San Diego's Scripps reported the first study to assess whether people undergoing genetic testing ultimately change their behavior specially at the age of 18 -using a saliva sample and an analysis of their genetic risk for more than 20 health conditions that may be changed by lifestyle, obesity, heart attack and some forms of cancer. The study told about to having a change by the family members and friends as well. The research will assess changes in behaviors over a 20-year period. The study actually is designed to find out if the testing will improve health by motivating people such as exercising, eating better and quitting smoking.
"Genome scans give people considerable information about their DNA and risk of disease, yet questions have been raised if these tests are ready for widespread public use," Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps unit and principal investigator of the study, said in a statement.
Several companies started selling genetic scans, but their efforts have come under scrutiny from regulators questioning the accuracy and validity of the tests. California's Department of Public Health has cleared Navigenics and Google-funded 23andMe to do business in the state, which previously ordered 13 genetic testing companies to stop selling directly to consumers.
Scripps said guidance on how to use the scan results to improve health outcomes will be available to participants on Navigenics' secure website. They will also be able to enter and store medical and lifestyle information in an individual account on Microsoft Corp's HealthVault.
"We stand upon the threshold of a fundamental paradigm shift from reactive to predictive and preventive medicine," Dr. Vance Vanier, chief medical officer at Navigenics, said in a statement.
0 Comments Here::
Post a Comment