NHS to offer paid-for DNA tests if patients share data

[John Mac]

People will be able to pay the NHS to sequence their genes on condition they share their data with scientists.

Those taking part in the planned scheme will be given a health report which can predict the risk of developing conditions like cancer or Alzheimer's.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock says it will help develop treatments "that will benefit everyone in the future".

But concerns have been raised over the plans by the chairwoman of the British Society for Genetic Medicine.

It is possible DNA tests could alert patients to things in need of further investigation. All data would be shared anonymously.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47013914

 

[Invisible Woman]

The snag is that peoplenhave the test and are identified as being at increased risk of developing something or other. They may be obliged to declare that to future employers, insurers, banks when they apply for mortgages etc.

 

[hellytheelephant]

...I think I would rather not know if Alzheimers is heading towards me...
Totally agree re the insurance point. You could make yourself uninsurable.

 

[Esther12]

This sounds deeply creepy to me.

 

[TiredSam]

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[hinterland]

Haha! So sceptical guys! Ok, so there're some potential downsides to signing up to this... but, overall, I think it's a good initiative; this sort of big data project is something the NHS is well positioned for. I'm in favour of it, but proceed with caution.

I got tested at 23andMe a couple of years ago and have one copy of the ApoE4 allele, which marginally (depending how you quantify it) increases my risk of late onset Alzheimer’s disease. About 20% of the population will have at least one copy of ApoE4, but genes alone don't predetermine your fate, it depends how they are expressed, how they interact with the environment; on epigenetics in other words.

This website here, has some good strategies for reducing your risk of Alzheimer’s. All common sense stuff that you're probably already doing as someone managing a chronic illness, or that you're unable to do anyway, in the case of the exercise recommendation.

Things you should do:
1. Lowering insulin resistance (avoid added sugar and refined carbohydrates)
2. Exercise..... (hmm, damn...)
3. Sleep
4. Stress management
5. Eating a healthy diet with heaps of micronutrients
6. Cognitive enhancement
7. Social enhancement
8. Taking some important supplements if you are not able to get what you need from diet or sunlight
9. Reducing inflammation in your body

And then things you should avoid:
10. Avoid smoking
11. Avoid having high blood pressure
12. Avoid hitting your head hard enough to sustain a concussion

 

[TiredSam]

12. Avoid hitting your head hard enough to sustain a concussion

I might start doing that. Thanks.

 

[Esther12]

Haha! So sceptical guys! Ok, so there're some potential downsides to signing up to this... but, overall, I think it's a good initiative; this sort of big data project is something the NHS is well positioned for. I'm in favour of it, but proceed with caution.

While people like Wessely are involved in their judgements about the ethics of mass data collection I'm left feeling wary.

I also think that this sort of proposal will mean that those who do not want to give the government access to their DNA will find it harder to access genetic testing on the NHS than they would have if this compulsion policy were not in place.