What Medical DNA Testing Can Tell You About Alzheimer’s Disease
Medical DNA Testing for Alzheimer's Disease
Like many conditions, Alzheimer’s Disease is hereditary. If someone in your family had the disease, there is a chance you will inherit it as well. But not everyone knows their family medical history. You may want to know if you are at-risk for certain conditions, but you may not know many of your family members. If you find yourself in this situation, you can always use medical DNA testing. By looking at your genetic code, scientists can determine the likelihood that you will acquire a certain disease. Here’s what medical DNA testing can tell you about Alzheimer’s Disease.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia, a disease that affects memory, reasoning, and other cognitive abilities. Although the disease is generally associated with old age, Alzheimer’s can affect anyone at any age. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, but health professionals can treat the symptoms of the disease and improve the patient’s quality of life.
How Can a Medical DNA Test Help?
The cause of Alzheimer’s Disease is unknown, but scientists have identified a number of genes that are linked to the condition. If you have these genes, you are more likely to develop the disease than others. Remember: these genes only increase your risk for Alzheimer’s Disease, but there is no guarantee that you will develop the condition.
During medical DNA testing, a professional will take a sample of your DNA from a cheek swab. They will then examine the variations in your genetic code and determine your likelihood for developing certain diseases. If you are particularly interested in Alzheimer’s Disease, they will keep an eye out for genes associated with the disease.
How Can You Prevent Alzheimer’s?
If your medical DNA testing results conclude that you are at-risk for Alzheimer’s, there is no need to worry. This only means that you should keep an eye out for some of the signs and symptoms. If you are curious about preventing Alzheimer’s, there are a number of steps you can take.
First, be sure to stay healthy and active throughout your life. Sedentary lifestyles are known to increase your risk. You should also stick to a healthy diet, maintain an active social life as you age, and get a good night’s sleep as often as possible. As you get older, you should try to get mental stimulation each day. This can include reading, doing crossword puzzles, or learning a new skill or language. By living a healthy, active lifestyle, you help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.
Contact Dynamic DNA Labs
Dynamic DNA Labs is a state-of-the-art genetics lab that specializes in DNA fitness testing, personalized medicine reporting, and ancestry DNA tests. To schedule medical DNA testing, contact us today!
