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Mayo Genome partnership with HELIX
Just Want to Talk | Last Active: Apr 26, 2019 | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
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.
Replies to "I have been on ambien for 10 years and have not been successful in getting off..."
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?
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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/