Transforming Healthcare: The Multifaceted Benefits of Whole Genome and Exome Sequencing
As part of our Membership Collective at Blend Group, we have a whole host of partners who form an exclusive group of like-minded individuals and organisations, offering various services that we feel are especially valuable to our members. Viavi Health Strategy is a world leader in health assessment and strategy services that is on a mission to help its clients live the healthiest lives they can.
Here Viavi explains how two groundbreaking technologies, whole genome sequencing (WGS) and whole exome sequencing (WES), are revolutionising healthcare by enabling comprehensive insights into an individual’s genetic blueprint.
Prevention through Genetic Insights
WGS and WES offer a window into disease prevention through early detection. By meticulously examining an individual’s genetic makeup, these techniques can uncover genetic variations associated with disease predisposition. This invaluable knowledge empowers individuals and healthcare providers to proactively address potential health risks by focusing on prevention and early detection.
Lifestyle Interventions: Exercise, Diet, Supplements, Stress and Sleep Management
WGS and WES play a pivotal role in crafting personalised lifestyle interventions. These encompass exercise programmes, dietary plans, supplement recommendations, stress management strategies and sleep optimisation. By considering an individual’s genetic predispositions, healthcare professionals can provide highly customised guidance. For instance, individuals with genetic markers indicating a higher risk for particular cancers or Alzheimer’s may receive personalised lifestyle prescriptions to significantly reduce their risk.
Pharmacogenomics: Tailoring Medications for Optimal Outcomes
Pharmacogenomics, the study of how an individual’s genetic makeup influences their response to medications, has been revolutionised by WGS and WES. These technologies offer crucial insights to optimise drug therapies by tailoring them to an individual’s genetic profile. Certain genetic variations can influence a patient’s response to a medication, leading to varying levels of effectiveness or potential side effects. Identifying these variations enables healthcare providers to select the most suitable medications and dosages for each patient, enhancing treatment outcomes and safety.
Reproductive Health and Family Planning
WGS and WES provide invaluable tools in the realm of reproductive health and family planning. Couples can have their genomes or exomes sequenced to assess the risk of passing on genetic disorders to their offspring. Armed with this knowledge, individuals can make informed decisions about family planning, considering options such as prenatal testing.
Moreover, these sequencing techniques can aid in identifying genetic factors contributing to infertility or recurrent miscarriages. This information enables healthcare providers to develop personalised treatment plans addressing the underlying genetic issues.
Understanding Epigenetics: The Key to Personalised Health
Epigenetics, the study of how our lifestyle and environment influence our gene expression, is even more important than just understanding our genetics. Measuring individual biomarkers to determine how our environment is impacting our DNA is crucial in deciphering the complexity of diseases influenced by both genetic factors and environmental exposures.
Health Optimisation: The Future of Personalised Healthcare
Beyond disease prevention and treatment, WGS and WES pave the way for health optimisation. With the wealth of genetic information at their disposal, individuals can embark on a journey to optimise their health to its fullest potential. Health optimisation can encompass personalised wellness plans that take into account an individual’s genetic predispositions for conditions such as ageing-related diseases or cognitive decline. By addressing these factors preemptively, individuals can proactively work towards maintaining peak health and vitality throughout their lives.
Learn More
Our health partners, Viavi, are confident that these technologies are key to reshaping the healthcare landscape. Much like us here at Blend Group, Viavi believes in a bespoke, personalised approach, over one-size-fits-all solutions and whole genome and exome sequencing is at the heart of the shift towards proactive and personalised healthcare.
If you’d like to learn more about these increasingly accessible and affordable technologies, or other ways you can take control of your health, we’d be happy to introduce you to our friends at Viavi.