Gene tests do not change lifestyle
Wednesday March 16th, 2016
Gene screening tests do not lead to individuals changing their lifestyle, researchers warn today.
Researchers found that patients did not seek to improve their lifestyles - nor did they succumb to depression or anxiety after getting genetic results.
Genetic testing is increasingly used by health care settings and individuals for a range of common disorders, explain Professor Theresa Marteau of Cambridge University, UK, and colleagues in the BMJ.
"There is an expectation that communicating DNA based disease risk estimates will motivate changes in key health behaviours, including smoking, diet, and physical activity," they write.
The team carried out an update of a Cochrane review from 2010, adding 11 studies to the seven previously identified. The studies all involved adults who were given personalised DNA based estimates of risk for conditions where behaviour change may reduce the risk.
"Meta-analysis revealed no significant effects of communicating DNA based risk estimates on smoking cessation, diet, or physical activity," they report.
"There were also no effects on any other behaviours (alcohol use, medication use, sun protection behaviours, and attendance at screening or behavioural support programmes) or on motivation to change behaviour."
On the other hand, the team also found no adverse effects, such as depression or anxiety.
They conclude: "Expectations that communicating DNA based risk estimates changes behaviour is not supported by existing evidence. These results do not support use of genetic testing or the search for risk-conferring gene variants for common complex diseases on the basis that they motivate risk-reducing behaviour."
Professor Marteau added: "Expectations have been high that giving people information about their genetic risk will empower them to change their behaviour - to eat more healthily or to stop smoking, for example - but we have found no evidence that this is the case."
Hollands, G. J. et al. The impact of communicating genetic risks of disease on risk-reducing health behaviour: systematic review with meta-analysis. BMJ 15 March 2016; doi: 10.1136/bmj.i1102 [abstract]
Tags: Elderly Health | Genetics | UK News
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