Biomarkers. To Know or Not to Know?

[rareboy]

"The Michael J Fox Foundation has announced the findings of a landmark paper that identified a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease with high accuracy, which may be able to indicate disease before typical symptoms appear. The researchers believe the biomarker will allow scientists to finally define Parkinson’s disease biologically, opening up new routes in diagnostics and potential therapies"

Breakthrough Test Detects Parkinson's Biomarker With 90 Percent Accuracy, Michael J Fox Foundation Announces

It's a promising leap forward in our understanding of Parkinson's.

www.iflscience.com

This is great news. And if preventive or prophylactic therapies can be found...could revolutionize peoples' lives.

We all know by now what our genetic outcomes likely look like. I can control my cholesterol and Cardio health, but not the predisposition to cancer or a known, managed genetic coagulability condition that, if cancer doesn't get me first, will be my ending. We also have Type 2 Diabetes and some neural issues in our bloodline as well.

I am glad to know of these things, but many others may not be. Do you know or not care to know?

 

[NotHardUp1]

Know.

I grew up across the street from a neighbor with Parkinson's, and she leads a full life till yet, in her 80's. Her son and I were in school together, btw. Great family.

As for cancer, I'd get that test too, and for dementia.

If I must take precautions to prevent incarceration in the case of dementia, I will. Likewise, I think I'm prepared to do what I need if the wrong cancer appears. Without a spouse or progeny, it's not a hard decision, really. Look back, thank God for the life that was, and don't try to extend it beyond reason.

 

[Peloso]

I lost two of my clients to dementia. It'a a horrible disease. I'm reading a lot more. I spend a lot of time doing brain teasers. I can't afford to take a class so I'm attempting to learn French online. It's not going well, but I'm trying.

My friend survived two cancers (prostate and throat) this past decade. He said if either of them come back, or if he develops a new tumor, he's not fighting it. "It isn't worth it." So I load up on things like blueberries, watercress, broccoli, tea, just to name a very few.

My PSA was negative. I have a chest scan and colonoscopy pending. Oodles of cancer in my family. Researchers have been saying again and again for years that cancer is more easily prevented, or even delayed, than cured.

It's the quality of the years, not the quantity.

 

[unloadonme]

I'm generally neglectful when it comes to my health. I've never been to my GP for any sort of routine check up. I only go when I'm ill, which is mercifully rarely. I'm not keen on needles or being messed around with, although I have had the COVID-19 vaccines when offered. I guess that means that I don't want to know about genetic markers.

In any case, it would be hard to put my finger on any illnesses which might run in my family. There have been a few cases of cancer, but never the same type twice. I can only think of one person in my extended family who has ever had a heart attack. There is possibly dementia running in one grandmother's family, but all the people who've had it were female.

 

[me203]

In general, knowing that a biomarker indicates a possible problem might be helpful. But it can also be a problem:

• It might result in unnecessary treatment.
• Biomarkers open the way for treatments that address the biomarker (make it look better), but do nothing to improve health outcomes.

 

[NotHardUp1]

^Yes, it might, but it cannot if one doesn't direct it.

I think it more a case of knowing what to be on guard for. Early detection is important.

And if you've missed that, beginning treatment is a very questionable decision for some of us.