DNA genetic testing can transform your health care by providing new insight into your unique physiology. At Sokya, we use this tool to identify prevention, monitoring and treatment options that can optimize your mental wellness and help you plan for the future.
Your family’s medical history provides important clues about your own health and wellness. That’s because many diseases have a genetic component that can be passed down from one generation to the next, increasing your odds of developing a certain condition. For example, if one or both of your parents has been diagnosed with diabetes, asthma or mental illness, you might exhibit the same symptoms depending on which genes you inherited. Fortunately, there’s a way to find out if you’re at risk and what you can do about it.
Diagnostic genetic testing involves the evaluation of a person’s DNA to reveal variations that can cause disease or illness, providing vital information to guide the diagnostic and treatment process. While there are many medical conditions for which genetic testing can be helpful — such as cancer, neurocognitive disorders (i.e., Alzheimer’s disease), autism and Down Syndrome — there are some limitations to the quality of the test for each suspected condition.
Genetic testing is also beneficial in the mental health sphere. It works by identifying the pharmacogenetic markers that determine which medications will work best, eliminating some of the unpredictability involved in the treatment process. Since many commonly prescribed drugs are metabolized in unique ways by the body depending on your DNA, genetic testing helps you and your clinician better understand how to improve your mental wellness.
