Background information

Genetics

Genes are the building blocks of our lives. They control our metabolism and often form the basis for what diseases we could develop. You can influence whether risks are turned on or off by choosing an optimal lifestyle.

Background information

Epigenetics

Epigenetics influence the enabling or disabling of our genes. For every person there is an optimum individual lifestyle and optimal environmental conditions.

Background information

Preventive Medicine

Many age-related diseases are caused by a declining immune system. If we cannot deal well with inflammation genetically, this system needs support.

Diseases

Advances in medicine make it possible to detect diseases earlier and treat them more effectively. However, this is a conventional model in which a patient presents with symptoms, the doctor makes a differential diagnosis and therapies are applied according to standard protocols.

There has been considerable progress in recent years, which now makes it possible to identify genetic variants that play a role in determining important diseases. Thanks to genetic testing, it is now possible to take preventive medical actions to prevent the development of diseases to which one might be particularly susceptible. These include the diseases listed below.

Diabetes Mellitus

In diabetes mellitus, a distorted sugar metabolism gives increased blood sugar levels. Lifestyle choices such as nutrition and sport can have a strong influence on the ability to turn on this gene. The danger of experiencing a heart attack, strokes and damage to the nerves and vessels can result. Targeted genetic tests can now determine the patient’s own predisposition to this at an early stage, in order to allow nutrition to be adjusted. The Prevention Complete, Cardio and Nutrition genetic tests can all show your individual risk of developing diabetes mellitus.

Inflammations

Inflammations are necessary defensive reactions of the body in order to fight impurities or pathogens. They are often accompanied by swelling, redness and/or pain. Whilst it is important to react to inflammation, it is just as important to isolate it. A number of signals (interleukins) in the cells play a very important role. Our genetic tests Prevention Complete, Cardio and Brain examine the inter-reactions of these interleukins. This gives you information about the optimal lifestyle for you.

Lipid Metabolic Disorder

In lipid metabolic disorder, the blood fat levels (cholesterol, triglycerides) are high. If the blood contains too much fat, this seeps into vascular walls and causes an inflammation that can lead to arteriosclerosis and narrowing of the blood vessels, with the risk of a heart attack and strokes. There is a range of genes that can regulate the lipid metabolism. Genetic tests such as Prevention Complete, Cardiac, Neurology and Nutrition can recognise risks at an early stage. Individual adjustments to lifestyle can protect against the consequences of lipid metabolic disorder.

Dementia

Dementia is a disease of the brain. Its main symptom is restricted memory function, and this normally does not arise until later years in life. It is a consequence of various causes for which different genes can be responsible. Vascular dementia is often the long-term consequence of arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure. Degenerative dementias like Alzheimer’s are the result of different metabolic causes. The risk genes for dementia are included in our Prevention Complete, Brain and Cardiac genetic tests. Knowledge of a predisposition allows carriers of risk genes to take targeted preventive measures.

Heart Attack

Heart attacks are a life-threatening condition. A deficient oxygen supply to the heart muscle means that muscle cells die. The causes are often blood clots or arterial-sclerotic narrowed coronary arteries. This can still result in death of the patient. There are genes that are linked to an increased risk of a heart attack or with risk factors such as lipid metabolic disorder, diabetes or chronic inflammation. Therefore, it is important to know at an early stage if you are predisposed, so that the risk can be offset by optimal lifestyle changes. Our Prevention Complete, Prevention and Cardiac genetic tests allow for assessment of individual risk for targeted preventive measures.

Depression

More than 15% of the population will suffer depression or burn-out during the course of their life. The symptoms are lethargy and tiredness. As well as chronic stress, other causes are life crises, early-childhood trauma, and genetic predisposition. Not everyone is equally susceptible to developing depression. When depression has developed, it is often difficult to treat. The effectiveness of medications is dependent on degrading enzymes for medicines. A genetic predisposition can be determined by our genetic tests Prevention Complete and Brain.

Strokes

Strokes are a sudden illness caused by critical disruption to the brain’s blood supply. They lead to cessation of certain functions of the central nervous system that may be temporary or permanent. This includes sight disruption, dizziness, lack of feeling in the body, paralysis, speech impediments and headaches. The reasons can range from blocked blood vessels due to thrombosis, arteriosclerosis or bleeding. Genetic tests such as Cardiac or Brain can recognises risks factors at an early stage and allow for targeted preventive measures.

Laktose Intolerance

Around 75% of the population do not tolerate lactose well: they lack the enzyme lactase to degrade lactose. This lactose intolerance often has a genetic cause and can have massively varying types of clinical presentation. Bloating, stomach cramps, chronic tiredness and headaches can be symptoms of lactose intolerance. Our genetic tests Prevention Complete and Nutrition will give you information about whether you have a genetic predisposition to lactose intolerance.

Thrombosis

Thrombosis is caused by blood clots causing narrowing of arteries, often in leg veins. Causes include blood composition, the speed of blood flow and the condition of the inner blood vessel walls. These three areas are affected by many different metabolic functions that can be traced to a range of genes and their functions. Our Prevention Complete and Cardiac genetic tests check selected genes in order to better assess individual risk for thrombosis.

Obesity

The development of obesity and being overweight is caused not just by lifestyle choices, but genes can also be an important factor. Knowledge that you have this predisposition may explain why losing weight is a long-term and strenuous process for some people. It is all the more important that carriers of this predisposition should seek to avoid becoming overweight. Information can be provided by our genetic tests Prevention Complete, Cardiac and Nutrition.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration, or age-related blindness, leads to a gradual loss of sight due to the retina losing function at the critical point for vision, the macula. Around 25–30 million people are affected worldwide. Two genes carry the significantly increased risk of this type of age-related blindness developing. Individuals who have these risk genes must ensure optimal nutrition in particular, and wear special glasses when the sun is especially strong, in order to protect their eyes from the sun’s rays. Test your susceptibility to macular degeneration with our genetic tests Prevention Complete and Nutrition.

Coeliac disease

There is a difference between gluten sensitivity and real genetic coeliac disease. Whilst gluten sensitivity can also be a temporary intolerance of gluten, for example as a result of a so-called leaky gut, coeliac disease is a real genetic-related gluten intolerance that requires a lifelong special diet. Gluten, a protein that is often present in wheat, then causes inflammation of the lining of the small intestine, As a consequence, it is difficult to digest food and the result is diarrhoea, vomiting, lack of appetite, weight loss, tiredness and depression. When the patient has such symptoms, a genetic test can help diagnosis. It can be added as an option to any of our genetic tests, but is included only in the Nutrition test.

Cancer

Cancers form when cells begin to divide uncontrollably, cross barriers and spread. This is often due to changes to the DNA caused by radiation, toxins or other environmental influences, or by genetic variants that cannot optimally repair damage to the DNA. Our detox enzymes and our tumour-suppression gene play an important role in developing cancer. Genetic tests such as Prevention Complete or Detoxification examine a range of genes with the aim of recognising genetic risks, such as for bowel, prostate, lung and breast cancer, in order to better prevent development of the disease.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is an illness of the skeletal system that results in loss of bone density and can lead to increasing disposition to fractures as you get older. Known causes are calcium deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, lack of exercise for bones, and a range of risk genes. This knowledge of a genetic predisposition helps in making individual lifestyle recommendations. This gene is investigated in our genetic tests Prevention Complete, Prevention and Nutrition.