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telomeres and aging

Telomere Length: How your genes affect telomeres and aging

Your telomeres are the region at the end of each chromosome that keeps your DNA intact when your cells divide. Telomeres that are too short cause cells to stop dividing. This causes some of the diseases of aging. Genetics plays a role here – along with diet and lifestyle.

Genetic Mutations that Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Just like there are genetic variants that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, there are also variants that protect against this disease. Check your genetic data to get a better picture of your risk factors. (Member’s article)

Alzheimer’s Disease

Key takeaways: ~ Alzheimer’s disease is a real risk for many people as they age. It is the most common form of dementia, affecting almost 1 in 3 people by the end of life. ~ One big change we have all been subjected to is the explosion of electronics and light at night. ~ Circadian rhythm, sleep, and melatonin are integral parts of preventing dementia. Alzheimer’s risk, Alzheimer’s prevention: With the advent of consumer genetic testing from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, etc, it is now easy to know if you are at a higher risk of getting Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Those with APOE ε3 are at normal risk for Alzheimer’s, and those who carry an APOE ε4 allele (or two) are at an increased risk. This is a touchy subject for some people, so please think it through before you check to see your APOE type.  If you want to know, head to this page to check your raw data for APOE genotype. Even without the APOE ε4 allele, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are a real risk as we age, … Read more

Genes Involved in Autophagy

Just like you need to take out the trash and recycle your plastics and cans, your body also needs to clean up cellular waste and recycle proteins. This process is called autophagy, and it is incredibly important in preventing the diseases of aging. (Member’s article)

Why light at night increases cancer risk

The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes light at night as a probable carcinogen. Learn why dim light at night increases your risk of breast cancer — and what you can do to easily reduce this risk. (Member’s article)

Osteoporosis Genes and Prevention Strategies

Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease facing many of us as we age. Genetics plays a big role in susceptibility to osteoporosis. The good news here is that knowing where your genetic susceptibility lies can lead you to targeted, personalized solutions for osteoporosis. (Member’s article)