A specially designed mobile phone game can detect people at risk of Alzheimer's - according to new research from the University of East Anglia. Researchers studied gaming data from an app called Sea Hero Quest, which has been downloaded and played by more than 4.3 million people worldwide. The game, created by Deutsche Telekom in partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK, University College London (UCL), the University of East Anglia and game developers, Glitchers has been designed to help researchers better-understand dementia by seeing how the brain works in relation to spatial navigation. As players make their way through mazes of islands and icebergs, the research team are able to translate every 0.5 seconds of gameplay into scientific data. The team studied how people who are genetically pre-disposed to Alzheimer's disease, play the game - compared to people who are not. The results, published in the journal PNAS, show that people who are genetically at risk of developing … [Read more...] about The Mobile Game that can Detect Alzheimer’s Risk
Genetic risk score
Hancock accused of ‘astonishing ignorance’ after he speaks about his prostate cancer risk
Matt Hancock has been accused of “an astonishing level of ignorance” after revealing that tests had found he is at increased risk of prostate cancer. One leading geneticist said the Health Secretary had “massively misinterpreted” his results, and would be wasting NHS resources by booking an appointment to discuss the matter with his GP. Mr Hancock revealed the results of his genetic tests as he called for the health service to roll out gene tests more widely. But scientists today criticised the drive, with Mr Hancock accused of making “frankly ridiculous” claims, in his speech to The Royal Society. Meanwhile GPs said encouraging people to routinely be tested for common diseases would uncover too many “unimportant” findings which would leave patients needlessly distressed, while heaping pressure on surgeries. Mr Hancock said the tests found he has a 15 per cent chance of suffering prostate cancer by the age of 75 - … [Read more...] about Hancock accused of ‘astonishing ignorance’ after he speaks about his prostate cancer risk
Health secretary wants NHS to roll out genetic tests to detect diseases
The health secretary is calling for predictive genetic tests for common cancers and heart disease to be rolled out on the NHS without delay. Matt Hancock, speaking at the Royal Society on Wednesday, revealed he recently took a commercial genetic test that showed he was at heightened risk of developing prostate cancer, saying he was shocked by the result. Hancock called for a national debate about the ethical issues around testing for diseases, some of which could not readily be treated. He said: “We must get predictive testing into the NHS as soon as we possibly can. I see it as a game-changer for cancer screening in the NHS and I’m determined that we harness this technology to save lives.” However, the prospect of a rapid rollout of genetic testing has attracted criticism. The tests, which have been largely developed using genetic data from white Europeans, give less accurate results for people from different ethnic backgrounds. Using them to guide health … [Read more...] about Health secretary wants NHS to roll out genetic tests to detect diseases
‘Genetic dice loaded against them’: Fat people rolled poor genes, concludes largest-ever study
Body weight is “largely influenced” by genes, according to the largest-ever study of its kind. Researchers concluded that slim people won the genetic lottery, while obese people have the deck stacked against them from birth. The study by Cambridge University aimed to determine why some people manage to stay thin with little effort, while others gain weight easily despite similar lifestyles. While there are several environmental factors that contribute to the rise in obesity in recent years – such as a high-calorie diet and lack of exercise – the team found there is still a significant variation in weight within a population that shares the same environment. Previous studies of twins have found that their differing body weight was largely influenced by their genes. It’s also been previously determined that genes can increase a person’s chance of being overweight, and in some people increases their chances of being obese from a young age. Also on … [Read more...] about ‘Genetic dice loaded against them’: Fat people rolled poor genes, concludes largest-ever study
New screening method to help identify babies at risk of diabetes
By Rod Minchin, Press Association A new way of screening babies and adults for future risk of type 1 diabetes will be much more effective at identifying the condition than current methods, new research has concluded. Scientists have developed a new risk score which takes into account detailed genetic information known to increase the chances of type 1 diabetes. This could be used to help identity babies at highest risk of developing the condition in the future. The score may also be used at the time of diabetes diagnosis to help decide if someone has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, which need very different treatments. Researchers at the University of Exeter and the Pacific Northwest Research Institute in Seattle found that their new risk score, the T1DGRS2, was nearly twice as efficient at identifying babies at high risk of type 1 diabetes as existing methods, which use more simplistic measures. The study found the new test was also better at predicting type 1 diabetes in adults in the … [Read more...] about New screening method to help identify babies at risk of diabetes