Jun 15, 2009

Do-It-Yourself DNA Testing

At-home genetic tests are all the rage. But can they really calculate your risk of developing life-threatening diseases? Before buying one, read this Prevention special report.


Anna Peterson is only 27, but she's already watched her mother and her aunt develop breast cancer. She also saw her grandmother's eyesight fail from macular degeneration. So Peterson, a graduate student in Ottawa, Ontario, took her health care into her own hands and did what millions of others of all ages are doing: She opted for at-home DNA testing for genetic diseases.


When the results from the $985 test from deCODEme arrived in her e-mail, Peterson felt relief learning that she didn't have an elevated genetic risk for macular degeneration. Yet the test did show a slightly elevated risk for the more common forms of breast cancer. The results, Peterson says, empowered her to make healthier choices. Together with her physician, she'll use that information to advocate for earlier screening for breast cancer--and possibly start getting mammograms at age 30. "Prevention starts with knowing the odds," says Peterson. "I now have the opportunity to make lifestyle changes in my 20s, rather than in my 60s."


Welcome to the brave new world of genetic analysis. Once the exclusive domain of doctors and genetic counselors, DNA testing is now a do-it-yourself proposition, with several dozen companies marketing tests directly to consumers, claiming that they will allow you to understand your genetic profile. The process is surprisingly simple: Buy a test online, swab the inside of your cheek or spit into a test tube to collect a DNA testing sample, and then mail it to the company. In return, you'll receive personalized medical information that purportedly allows you to combat genetic diseases by making informed choices about your health. Bolstering that promise is new research that shows you can actually turn off genes that promote certain diseases by improving your diet and better managing stress.

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