Demo: Disease Risk: Examples

Here are examples of some conditions found in each disease risk category. The examples below are only a sample of the kinds of conditions in each disease risk category. If you choose to receive results in a given category, you might not receive results for the specific condition listed here as an example.

• Blood: Anemia  

  Anemia is a condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. This means not enough oxygen reaches different tissues in the body. Symptoms of anemia vary, but often include fatigue. There are many reasons why someone may have anemia, such as a lack of iron or other vitamins, and certain genetic conditions.

• Brain and Nervous System: Epilepsy  

  Epilepsy is a condition where a person has repeated seizures (jerking or shaking movements and/or loss of awareness). Mild forms of epilepsy may go undetected and undiagnosed. While there are many different causes of different types of epilepsy, genetics is thought to play a role in almost half of all cases.

• Cancer: Colon Cancer—Lynch Syndrome  

  Lynch syndrome is a rare genetic condition that increases your risk for colon cancer, uterine cancer, and other cancers. It increases your lifetime risk of getting colon cancer and you are more likely to get cancer at an earlier age.

• Digestive System: Celiac Disease  

  Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing important nutrients from food. The disease is caused by a reaction to eating gluten, a common protein found in most grains. A person’s risk for celiac disease may be affected by changes in several genes that control the body’s immune system.

• Heart and Lungs: Sudden Death—Long QT  

  People with long QT syndrome have fast and irregular heart rhythms. This medical condition can result in fainting and possible sudden death. Long QT syndrome may be caused by taking certain medications and/or by having one or more known genetic variants.

• Metabolism and Hormones: Type 2 Diabetes  

  Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, develops when cells in the body do not respond to insulin, leaving high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Genetics plays a large role in type 2 diabetes; however, we know only a few of the specific genes involved.

• Muscles and Bones: Osteoarthritis  

  Arthritis refers to inflammation (swelling and pain) of one or more joints, which are the spaces between bones. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is caused when the protective cartilage between bones wears away. Although many factors contribute to osteoarthritis, genetics is thought to play a role in about half of all cases.

• Senses: Vision—Age-Related Macular Degeneration  

  Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of vision loss in the United States among people over 60 years of age. A change in the CFH gene makes someone more than twice as likely to develop AMD. People with a greater risk for AMD may want to their vision checked more often.