Our risks of developing most diseases are largely affected by patterns of inheritence from our parents. Our family histories are valuable in understanding our pattern of disease risk, which can help us to develop strategies to stay healthy.

 

Although the genes we inherit from our parents cannot be changed, it is now recognised that better living can turn off bad genes and turn on good genes. By understanding our patterns of inheritence, which genes we carry for health and disease, better decisions can be made to help us to stay healthy.

 

For some patients, this kind of genetic profiling may be helpful, depending upon the medical histories of our parents and grandparents. Genetic testing can sometimes help to modify treatment programs to allow for individual differences.

 

This is an exciting, new area of interest that has potential benefits to you, your family and your relatives. The Being Alive Study is currently researching this area with The Department of Genomics at Griffith University to identify new ways of helping people stay healthy. Being Alive believes that new information should be available to patients as soon as it hs been validated so our patients can make the best informed decisions about their health. If you are concerned about health risks in your family history, you are welcome to discuss this with our trained professionals.