Look into your future

I confess: I am 27 years old and I have always been too lazy to go to the doctors. As a child, I dreamed of having such a device as in science fiction films – so that it instantly scans the entire body, gives a forecast for the future and recommendations for treatment.

I often heard the words “heart attack”, “stroke”: many in our family had vascular diseases. And recently, my therapist advised me to monitor the pressure: “You have bad genetics.”

Of course, I knew what genetics was, but it seemed to me that this science was more about the highest achievements of medicine, and not about me personally. And for a long time, I probably would not have remembered genetics if at the beginning of the year I had not found an invitation to a press conference in my work mail. Biomedical holding “Atlas” presented its new clinic, which is also engaged in genetic research.

The hall was full, I could hardly find a seat. Atlas doctors talked about testing technology, about the “meaning” of gene mutations, and why a DNA test is needed at all. It turns out that from it you can not only learn about your distant ancestors from Africa, but also get information about the main genetic risks and just about the characteristics of the body (for example, how quickly it burns calories or builds muscle). DNA analysis can even tell about the traits of my personality.

This last detail convinced me that I should take the test. But where to start? I went to the Atlas website. Well, the description of the test is impressive: they promise me to reveal 355 health indicators, 40 sports indicators and 55 personal qualities. I began to doubt. So much information based on one analysis? However, next to it it is indicated that the service includes a consultation with a geneticist. At least someone will be able to answer my questions and doubts if they arise. I resolutely take the next step – I start my personal account on the site. It will store all the data about my health (including my DNA). It remains only to sign up for testing. I’m glad that I don’t have to go anywhere. And you don’t need to wait your turn in the corridor, and before that, you don’t need to follow a diet for a week either. I only need to indicate my address and a convenient time, and then click the “Call a courier” button.

Analyze it

On the appointed day, the phone rang – am I waiting for the courier? Of course, look forward! I hoped to ask him, because the instructions on the site seemed suspiciously simple to me: do not drink, do not kiss, and do not chew gum for half an hour before donating biological material – saliva. This did not fit in at all with my idea of ​​”serious” analysis. But the young man handed me a packed box and firmly said that the instructions were inside. Well, all I had to do was open the package.

In it, I found a form for personal data, a plastic container and a sealed container in which a preservative liquid splashed.

According to the instructions, I filled the container with my saliva to the control line, carefully opened the container and mixed the preservative with saliva … I was so worried that I would do something wrong or the courier would trip along the way and my analysis would be lost, that I folded the container along with the completed form in a bag and took him to the clinic. Now I had to wait for the results.

Read more:

• How genetics affects happiness

Sprinter, reader, Neanderthal…

For nearly three weeks my imagination has been drawing a picture like this: I walk into a white office, and a doctor with a serious face invites me to sit down and slowly and muffledly says a few words that make my hands go cold. I tried to drive away these thoughts from myself and did not even look at the clinic’s website: when the analysis is ready, they will notify me. But these weeks dragged on too long. Finally, an e-mail from Atlas arrives: the results are in, you can see them in your personal account.

The first thing I look at is the Health section. The list of risks is not so big, I feel relieved. The risk of coronary heart disease and high blood pressure is expected to be higher than normal. And here’s the surprise: I have an increased risk of obesity! I have been skinny all my life and suffered more from being underweight than from being overweight. In addition, the test shows a high risk of a disease with the cryptic name “age-related macular degeneration.” I make a mental note not to forget to ask about this at a consultation with a geneticist and read on. In the “Sports” section, I am told that I am a “sprinter” (good exercise result combined with slow recovery); in the “Nutrition” section – that I have reduced satiety and a sense of sweet taste (did not notice) and I should eat more greens and whole grains (perhaps you can try it if necessary!).

Four indicators are described in “Personal Qualities”: reading ability (“above average”), a tendency to perfect pitch (I try to check it right away, but my wife says: “Better not sing”) and abstract thinking. As well as developed episodic memory. Finally, I get to my roots: Origins says that most of my ancestors are from Northern Europe and I am only slightly (1,7%) Neanderthal.

I am closing the site. Head is spinning. Too much information and only one desire – for someone to explain to me in an understandable language what all this threatens me with and what to do about it? And then I remember the consultation with a geneticist …

Know yourself

When the geneticist Irina Zhegulina started commenting on my results, it turned out that I had no idea about some of the problems! I found out that the DNA molecule is somewhat similar to a computer code. Periodically, errors occur in the code, due to which the processes in the body can malfunction or even “turn off” altogether. These errors—geneticists call them point mutations—happen all the time. Most of them are corrected in time, but some errors still elude the “repairers”. This is how polymorphisms are formed – gene variations that can affect the functioning of a variety of organs. For example, I had two polymorphisms responsible for male infertility. Although at first I did not attach importance to the risk (15% versus an average of 12,5%), Irina Zhegulina explained that it is quite real. But it can be corrected by taking certain drugs.

Vascular problems were associated with high levels of homocysteine, which contributes to the formation of blood clots. Now every six months I have to take an analysis for homocysteine. The doctor also recommends avoiding exercises that put stress on the bones and joints (like barbell squats) as I have a predisposition to bone breakdown.

But “age-related macular degeneration” turned out to be a fairly common visual impairment, in which the eyes seem to be covered with fog, making it difficult to read, distinguish between faces and objects. True, this disease develops already in adulthood – from 55 to 80 years, so for now you can not worry about it.

In the dry residue

Already at home, I reread the information in my personal account again. Then I carefully look in the mirror. I look perfectly healthy. And yet I have something to think about.

Homocysteine ​​is what worries me the most — now even that word seems unpleasant to me. The fact that my body produces too much of it, I first learned from the test. My grandmother died of a stroke two years ago. She always looked after her health, looked cheerful and cheerful. But the disease was still stronger. And if she knew about the genetic characteristics of her blood vessels? Could she wrest a few more years from death? Would you like? And how do I manage the information I now have? Not decided yet. At least I know a little more about myself. It means that I have come closer to understanding who I am and who I can become – in every sense.