Mayo Genome partnership with HELIX

Hi @rachel123 are you referring to the Mayo Clinic GeneGuide? https://www.mayoclinic.org/mayoclinic-geneguide

I am believe @johnbishop as ordered the GeneGuide as well and may be able to share his experience with the process and what his results were.

Back to you @rachel123 what got you interested in the GeneGuide?

@ethanmcconkey
Good morning (In CA anyway)
Does your genetics dept or the Epilepsy Center participate in the gene sequencing program that sends a patients gene profile to researchers around the world where various scientists try to decipher why a person has Epilepsy?
Thanks much,
Jake

Hi @rachel123, I did participate in the Mayo Clinic GeneGuide by Helix last November. I was happy with the results and the associated learning tools online to help understand the results. I've also noticed that once they have the DNA that I get some marketing info from Helix for other other health assessments they can provide using the existing DNA data from you ... just cost you a little more $$ ☺ I am glad that I did it.

Hi John - Thank you for your reply. I am still waiting to hear from them. Has been about 5 weeks so hopefully will hear something soon.

I have been on ambien for 10 years and have not been successful in getting off of the drug. It works well for me, however, I am having memory issues for past 6-12 months. Interested in my DNA and whether their is something that I can do to stop the memory loss....my grandfather committed suicide and I don't want to go down that path either. Of course, I don't know if ambien is the cause or just my age @ 68. Have had a great life and having memory loss and an addiction is not something that I anticipated..........very challenging. I believe that accurate health/dna information can be very valuable and just want to have a high quality of life without an addiction and with my mind working!! May just need to have a better diet, less stress and more exercise --- wonder if our DNA can predict specifically what will help. .............. I believe it probably can, if not today, then maybe someday.

Hi @rachel123 -- I was always amazed at the memory of my mother-in-law. She lived to be 90 and her memory was always sharp as a tack. She was constantly doing crossword puzzles and her brain food that she shared with me was blueberries. I ran across and interesting article that I thought you might find helpful.

Neuroscience shows that 50-year-olds can have the brains of 25-year-olds if they sit quietly and do nothing for 15 minutes a day
-- https://www.businessinsider.com/neuroscience-50-year-olds-brains-of-25-year-olds-habit-2019-4/

What I hopes helps me is my daily quest to learn at least one new thing a day. That and blueberries ☺
-- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eating-blueberries-and-strawberries-staves-off-memory-decline-study-suggests/

@johnbishop Ahh, so that’s my problem, I’m doing too much.
JK

@ethanmcconkey
I assume Mayo doesn’t participate in the Epilepsy gene program that I mentioned earlier.
Jake

Hi @jakedduck1 I apologize for the late reply. I found this excerpt from the Epilepsy page on the Mayo Clinic website (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093), it reads: "Researchers have linked some types of epilepsy to specific genes, but for most people, genes are only part of the cause of epilepsy. Certain genes may make a person more sensitive to environmental conditions that trigger seizures."

According to the Mayo Clinic GeneGuide™ website, it "does not test for every gene variant but instead tests for some known to have correlations to disease risk."The list of conditions and gene variants tested by Mayo Clinic GeneGuide referred to in this discussion thread doesn't appear to include epilepsy at this time (https://www.mayoclinic.org/mayoclinic-geneguide/conditions-and-genetic-variants-tested)

To find out specifically about genes related to epilepsy and research being done at Mayo Clinic, you can contact Mayo directly http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

Hi @rachel123,
The Mayo Clinic GeneGuide doesn't test specifically for Ambien metabolism. You can read the list of conditions and gene variants, it tests for here (https://www.mayoclinic.org/mayoclinic-geneguide/conditions-and-genetic-variants-tested).

As you know, the GeneGuide is a physician-ordered test through a nationwide network of genetic counselors and doctors. After answering some general health questions, a physician verifies that this product is right for your health situation before the test is ordered, which your doctor did. It is a useful first step to DNA testing that can help provide background and learning about pharmacogenomics and you. Depending on the results, you and your provider can decide if additional testing could or should be considered.

Like you, @johnbishop and @contentandwell, I think about healthy aging. Certainly good sleep, diet and exercise habits are the best things we can do for ourselves. No doubt as science evolves we will learn and benefit more and more from genetic research and its applications.

John, the article about sitting quietly and doing nothing for 15 minutes a day to improve brain health is interesting. Being proactive is always associated with doing something. Food for thought.

Rachel, Besides healthy living, what else do you do to help reduce or slow down memory loss? Do you have any tricks that you try?