Genetics and Health

Genes Are Only Part of the Story

by Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD on August 6th, 2005

This article in Tech Central Station, Medicine to Fit Your Genes, seemed to be missing some facts.

Here’s what I agreed with:

• These differing patterns of death and disease are seen in subpopulations defined by age, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic location, environment, education or income.
• The most recognized genetic-based health disparity is that women live longer than men. Certain ethnic, racial and related geographic biological differences are well known.
• Ignoring biology can only limit the understanding of why certain people get sick and how best to treat them.
• Genetics not only predispose specific subpopulations to particular diseases, but also affect the efficacy of treatments for subpopulations.
• The role of genetics can no longer be ignored.

Here’s what I thought needed more clarification or additional information:

• BiDil [a heart drug for African-Americans] represents a broader acceptance of a genetic approach to understanding health disparities.

  I don’t think there was ever a doubt that genes play a role in causing disease. BiDil is controversial because it represents an acceptance of a race-based approach. Ethnicity and race are hard to define. See my previous posts about BiDil.

• The most recognized genetic-based health disparity is that women live longer than men.

  Genes only explain part of the reason why women have longer lifespans on average. Other reasons could be hormones, behavior, evolution, lifestyle. Age at death is starting to become more similar between men and women as women begin smoking and drinking more, and are under increased stress from working outside the home.

• African American women have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than White women.

  Yes, but they are also more likely to die from breast cancer because they are not diagnosed early enough and have more aggressive tumors. There are probably other factors that come into play such as access to health care, diet, etc.

And the kookiest concluding sentence:

Maybe research on the reason women live longer than men will help achieve a better understanding of the aging process, help us live as long as our wives, and balance the gender ratio in retirement communities and nursing homes.

I didn’t know balancing the gender ratio where senior citizens tend to live was a priority.

Maybe I’m just being nit picky (as usual).

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