HEALTHY LIVING


What Genetic Testing Can, and Can’t, Tell You


You’ll learn about family history, but don’t expect it to predict your future health. ::


BY VERA TWEED C


ould a simple dna test reveal your risk for Alzheimer’s disease or cancer?


And if it does, what should you do


with that information? As at-home genetic testing has


become widely available, more people are asking whether you can gain insights into your ancestry and your health with just a saliva sample, cheek swab, or blood test. If your goal is to learn more about


your family history or connect with previously unknown relatives, an ancestry DNA test may provide valuable information. But when it comes to predicting


your future health, the picture is far more complicated. For a small number of inherited


disorders, such as Huntington’s disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and sickle cell disease, certain genetic mutations are strongly linked to developing the condition. Most common diseases, including Alzheimer’s and many cancers, don’t follow that pattern. Instead, genetic tests typically


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estimate your inherited risk rather than predict whether you’ll develop a disease. “Just because I have a higher risk


doesn’t mean I’ll ever get it,” says Katherine Hunt Brendish, Ph.D., clinical professor and director of the genetic counseling program at Arizona State University in Tempe. Whether genetic testing is


worthwhile depends on the individual, the reason for testing, and how the results are interpreted.


GENETIC COUNSELING “The best way to understand who should undergo genetic testing is to have individuals meet with a genetic counselor for a thorough evaluation of their family history,” says Brendish.


Genetic counselors have at least


a master’s degree and work with doctors and other members of a healthcare team, helping patients understand their testing options and what different outcomes may mean. Once results are in, the counselors help patients and their families understand the ramifications and provide emotional support where needed.


ALZHEIMER’S TESTS The test of APOE genes indicates which genetic variants, or alleles, have been inherited from the father and mother. From lowest to highest risk, the


variants are E2, E3, and E4. Inheriting E4 variants from both


How to Find Genetic Counselor


Your doctor can refer you to a genetic counselor, or you can search for one in your area, or who does telehealth, on the National Society of Genetic Counselors website at www.aboutgeneticcounselors.com.


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