How important is DNA in preventing disease?

Our body, our nest, is our temple, but do we protect it the way it deserves? We spoke with the founder of the Association of Italian Preventive and Anti Aging Physicians and   E.S.A.A.M Secretary General of European Association of Preventive, Rigenerative and Anti Aging Medicine Prof.Damiano Galimberti who has spent years advising his patients on how to live a healthy life. He says we have to call a health minister, the disease minister because they are not looking after their health; they are only focused on the disease. In ancient Rome and China doctors got paid until the patient got sick, because their duty was to keep patients in good health.

How efficient is DNA testing for us to prevent disease?
It is very important to improve the concept of prevention. Why are there no cures for some neurological diseases such as parkinson’s or alzheimer’s?  We lose neurons from our brain every day and cannot replace them. If you lose more than normal you could contract a disease such as parkinson’s or alzheimer’s. We can’t cure these diseases, but we can slow down illness if we have the DNA map. Many alzheimer symptoms occur when a person is around 65 years old. But if you have your DNA mapped when you are younger, you may not prevent it, but you can easily slown down the process and have a better quality of life. If in your DNA map shows an abnormality for a potential desease you could take extra supplements or eat for that. For instance, if you have a potential for alzheimer’s, you can take supplements like antioxidants for the brain or eat food with the right Omega 3, and  do neccessery mental activities. If you use your right hand to much we might suggest you to start to use your left hand for  brushing, to open a door or, try to write with the left hand.

How important is  physical activity and what we eat for our health ?
Physical activity slows down the risk of cancer like the food we eat. If we pay attention to what we eat we can be more healthy. Disease such as cancer takes a lot of energy. Of course we don’t eat well all the time.  It might be very boring to always eat boiled vegetables. Even if a patient is at a terminal stage,  just a quality diet can improve the remaining life. We cannot cure them, we can only make life more comfortable. Activity is very important as well. Instead of driving try to walk everyday. It is simple and efficient.

Why should we have a DNA test? And is there a recommended age for the test?
DNA testing helps us see our status. For example, in my family my mother, my aunt, my wife, my mother in law have always been cured of breast cancer. Even though they know they are in a high risk group. With a gene test we can prevent the risk. Nowadays people are getting breast cancer at an early age.  My daughter had the test to prevent that risk. So there is no age limit . The earlier you find out about your genes you can prevent the outcome more easily.

The test show us if we are in a risk group and how we can prevent it or even though we have it. I had a very young patient with ideal weight, good health, low cholesterol and normal figures in her test….but she had a mio cardio infection in it’s early stages. They did all kinds of tests and couldn’t find any abnormality. When we did the test we found she had very rare genes that might cause such an attack. Now her doctor treats her and she probably won’t have a problem later on in life. An ordinary check up is very good, but it shows you at that moment not tomorrow or a month later not even an hour later.

How many different tests do you have for DNA mapping?
Today even Google does a genetic test.  It is not accurate of course. The test has to be personalised. You have to have very specific information. For example,  genes for an African might be normal, but abnormal for a Caucasion. We have a longevitiy test and this is the total of your DNA mapping. If you only want to lose weight we have a specific one just to see your metobolism  and we have an other small package just for the skin.

If you have a disease, how important is it to have this kind of test?
Genetic test is valid worlwide since january 2011. It is a very detailed test. You can have this test to prevent all kind of illnesses, or if you have already had a disease you can prevent contracting it again by having this test. We have a different gene test to see if your DNA has mutated. If it has mutated that shows that you are in a high risk group. In that case you have to use the right antioxidant. There are some diseases that even if we can see there is a risk,  we cannot do anything. These are diseases like leukemia and lymphoma.

How often should we have to have our DNA test renewed?
Once in your life time is enough unless there are new discoveries. Today we are analysing 300 to 400 genes and in the near future we will be able to examine up to 600.

If you would like to have your DNA mapped to prevent desease and have a healthy and quality life, you can always have a DNA test at S.M.I.A (societa medici internatioli Anti-Aging. We got the result of the test in one month. If you like to have a healthier life you can simply contact 0212 3197610.

Tuana Zeynep Bilgin

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