WEALTH

FOCUS
“For those with a risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, there
are measures to reduce the risk,” says Pinchas Cohen, dean
of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. “Other
behavior patterns help reduce the risk of diabetes or cancer.
Choosing preventative measures to avoid personal highrisk
diseases is the most important step in “personalized
aging,” a term coined by Cohen.
» OUR NEXT CHALLENGE IS EMPOWERING
PEOPLE TO USE THEIR GENETIC DATA
TO PROMOTE THEIR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS «
PINCHAS COHEN, DEAN OF THE
USC DAVIS SCHOOL OF GERONTOLOGY
Health and nutritional advice abounds but is often
conflicting. People need personalized advice that involves
a limited number of things to do, explains Cohen.
The concept of personalized aging is spreading as
scientists increasingly understand genetic variations, the
interaction between genes and the environment, and their
correlation with specific diseases. Personal genomics has
advanced over the last decade, allowing medical
professionals to analyze individual’s genomes by means of
single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis chips and
partial or full genome sequencing.
Accessing genotypes makes it easier to identify the gene
variants associated with the risk of getting certain diseases.
For example, variations within the gene called Apo-E
determine the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. This risk can
differ by a factor of 10 from one variant to another.
Other genes act as health pointers: a melanoma-risk gene
variant might make you rethink your sunscreen regime,
another gene variant helps determine the usefulness of a
daily aspirin, or a glass of red wine.
Once the individual risk is understood, various
interventions are available, says Cohen. “We can sequence
individual genomes quickly and relatively cheaply. Our
next challenge is empowering people to use their genetic
data to promote their own health and happiness.”
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Helping people select the best diet for them, according to
their genetics and other biomarkers, such as blood lipid or
cholesterol levels, comes top of the list. This remains an
area of active research but emerging data indicates that a
low protein diet might help people with a high risk of cancer
and that certain gene variants determine the
responsiveness to a low carb diet.
Then comes exercise. Genetic variants determine
whether certain people benefit more from high-aerobic
exercise, such as running, or from low-impact workouts,
such as weight lifting. Research is ongoing. “We are still at
the stage where we can only tell people that physical
activity is good,” says Cohen.
Who knows how the practicalities of this will unfold.
Clearly, healthcare professionals will need to pass on
medical advice to individuals to stop them from making
inappropriate decisions about their health, Cohen suggests.
Already over a million people in the US have voluntarily
had their genes analyzed. Not everyone chooses to delve
deeply into their genome but the opportunity to do so and
guarantee healthy aging is beckoning.
Allianz • 27