DNA business has developed with cosmic speed. Indeed, the number of proposed genetic tests, tips, recommendations and magic receipts continues to grow, particularly via internet, as are the number of mistakes and deceptions. Therefore, the vital questions are: how does genetics work and how do we use this powerful tool the most effective and reliable way?
Finalization of Human Genome Project in 2003 has brought us tremendous information about the structure of our genes and opened the beginning of a new Genomic era, which signifies the usage of knowledge about our genes in our everyday life.
However, this unlimited genetic information can be compared with nuclear energy. Like any knowledge, it is neutral, but the effects and impacts of its usage depend on whose hand it is in, and how thoughtfully it is applied.
There is often confusion in understanding what are the real opportunities of genetics usage in our everyday life and how is it related to prevention. Indeed, our genes accompany us in our everyday life, when we eat, drink, do physical exercises, struggle with stress and fatigue, or when we fall in love. These interactions between our genes and our environment represent the main basis for highly personalized prevention and anti-aging. Due to the genomics progress, we can control and use this unique mechanism of interactions and live in harmony with our genes.
Personalized prevention can help the body get up to 14 years more of active, healthy life through nutrigenomics, beautiful skin through dermagenetics, help avoid drug adverse reactions through pharmacogenetics and assist in avoiding environmental toxins through ecogenetics and toxicogenomics.
Today we know that a highly personalized, genetically based preventive approach helps to avoid up to 30 percent of all cancers induced by poor nutrition (EU data), 800,000 first-time heart attacks and 250,000 deaths caused by such attacks, along with more than 2 million drug adverse reactions a year (Institute of Medicine, US). This approach has also seen chronic fatigue decrease 25 percent in European patients.
Prevention is good, but knowing what to prevent in each particular case is better. The knowledge about interactions between genes and the environment gives us this information. For personalized, expert performance in prevention a simultaneous analysis of genetic results, together with lifestyle, nutrition, biochemical data, existed diseases and up to 200 different criteria are necessary. Only such specific dynamic expertise helps to use your genetic potential in the most efficient way and makes your genes work for you.
Primitive DNA business will not give such a personalized approach, but rather on the basis of several genes and without any personal information, would give such generic recommendations like: eat green vegetables, stay active and avoid smoking. Also, looking at scientific journals for personalized information and diagnosis about genes and genotypes would be a faulty strategy because journals deal with descriptive, scientific data, which is generic and not personalized to the individual.
Last year was very important for Europe and for non-European countries due to the finalization of the major EU government projects, which were devoted to nutrigenetics and public health genetics, including such aspects as cardiovascular risk, obesity, diabetes and weight control.
After 15 years, the top quality platform for genetic and non-genetic preventive analyses and personalized expertise has been successfully set up in Luxembourg, Laboratories Reunis. Through this platform the unique dynamic genetic skill is available in many countries, including Europe, Latin America and the United States. Furthermore, this strategy is deeply related to the work of the European Institute of Personalized Prevention in Nice, France, where many doctors from all over the world are formed to use genetics for prevention purposes and use special communication approaches with patients and clients. Other leading European laboratories, like Laboratory Sabater in Spain, also join this highly personalized top quality genetic expertise strategy.
Nutrigenetics panels are the most useful and reliable recommended programs and the most frequently used, according to a special approved list of gene choice and non-genetic criteria. It provides the personalized information concerning prevention of different environmentally induced disorders, cancer prevention, anti-aging, chronic fatigue, allergies, and endometriosis all through nutritional approaches. Due to high preventive efficiency, this panel can be suggested practically to anyone, including persons in good health.
Today, excellent highly qualified specialists in Germany, United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, New York, St. Petersburg, Russia and many other places are ready to help you. However, according to the new social trends, especially highlighted during the World Congress in Anti-aging medicine in Monaco and Global Spa Summit of May 2009 in Interlaken, Switzerland, people prefer to have the nice healthcare preventive procedures out of the hospital or standard spa structure.
Currently, the new generation of medical spas and advanced wellness centers are starting to develop. Such multidisciplinary centers and resorts have different specialists and facilities in order to set up and successfully realize your genetically specific recommendations.
As an expert in this area, I am particularly happy to say, that special genetic medical spa programs with appropriate highly personalized recommendations have been set up last year at the basis of Laboratories Reunis.
Moreover, you can have your exclusive personalized prevention program either with the listed specialists that follow the achievement of the desired results of such centers as La Reserve in Geneva, Switzerland, SHA Wellness in Alicnate, Spain, or you can go directly to these centers. Such types of personalized service will be available in Monaco in the future.
Due to the big confusion in general population concerning genetics, unfortunately, there are many disappointed persons who are often the victims of rapid DNA business. Such people who have had the genetic tests are not satisfied and often ask, if they have to do it again? The answer is no, but the obtained genetic results can be re-analyzed properly according to your current status and lifestyle. If needed, some additional genes can be recommended to test in order to get the reliable personalized genetic expertise and preventive program.
Finally, I usually say to our doctors and clients, in reference to my life and health experience, to remember that any real personalized genetic program does not mean that you need to lose your favorite habits. Genetic programs will help you to optimize your gene activities, protect you from unfavorable environmental factors and environmentally induced diseases and improve quality of life.
Dr. Helena Baranova is a doctor of Medicine and Sciences, as well as a professor in Medical genetics. She has been recognized as the European expert for “Genetics, life sciences and biotechnology for Health”, International expert for Anti-aging Medicine and Medical Wellness. She has also served as the president of the European Institute in Personalized Prevention. With about 16 years of scientific, clinical and practical experience in genetics and prevention, Baranova has been awarded many international awards. As an author of several books, she is a regular/honoree speaker for different world and international societies in anti-aging medicine and medical spas. To contact Dr. Baranova, email [email protected]