Genes Archive

Women's Health

Risk factors for benign breast conditions identified

Published December 1, 2021

Family history of breast cancer may up the risk of benign breast conditions.

Staying Healthy

Creating a family medical history

Published December 1, 2021

Collecting a medical history from relatives can help people understand what diseases they may be more susceptible to in the future. These might include certain cancers or chronic conditions. Gathering a history can be challenging. When doing so, it’s important to respect people’s privacy and to approach the subject with sensitivity. Holiday gatherings can present an opportunity to get started. Using an online tool can help the process.

Women's Health

A new targeted treatment for early-stage breast cancer?

Published November 24, 2021

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and treatment strategies vary by subtype, stage, and more. A new targeted therapy may help some women with early-stage breast cancer linked to BRCA gene mutations.

Men's Health

You don't say? Hair today, gone tomorrow

Published September 1, 2021

Men’s hair turns gray and falls out because of genes, declining hormones, and advancing age. The speed and severity this happens varies per person, but there is little that men can do about these hair changes.

Heart Health

Does early heart disease run in your family?

Published September 1, 2021

People with a family history of premature or early coronary artery disease (defined as a heart attack that occurs before age 55 in a man or before age 65 in a woman) face a higher risk of heart disease than people without that family history. Some of this elevated risk comes from genetic factors linked to higher cholesterol and blood pressure values. But unhealthy habits—such as smoking and poor eating and exercise habits—also tend to run in families and may contribute as well.

Diseases & Conditions

Answering your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine

Updated June 1, 2021

People who get the COVID-19 vaccine may experience arm pain, rashes, aches, fever, or fatigue. Doctors say it's worth the risk, since an older adult's risk of dying from COVID is 3% to 11%.

Child & Teen Health

Sickle cell disease: Ways to help teens and parents

Published May 21, 2021

Children with sickle cell disease are at higher risk for many health problems and possible complications get more serious as children grow into adults. Here are ways for parents to support teens with SCD in learning to take care of themselves.

Staying Healthy

Can we slow the aging process?

Updated May 1, 2021

Scientists are beginning to understand the natural biological processes that control aging, and they have made exciting discoveries about tinkering with the process. For example, they've been able to make aged cells act like brand-new cells in lab experiments; they've figured out how to make worms live five times as long as they normally would; and they've been able to keep mice from becoming obese and from developing diabetes, kidney failure, and heart failure.

Andrew E. Budson, MD

A clue to a cure for Alzheimer’s disease

Published November 27, 2019

Half of people who live to 85 will develop Alzheimer’s disease — a disturbing statistic. But research into a family in South America has revealed a gene mutation that appears to afford protection, and may lead to a way to treat or possibly even prevent the disease.

Chirag Patel, PhD

Your risk of dementia: Do lifestyle and genetics matter?

Published September 13, 2019

Clinical trials for drugs to stop or slow the progression of dementia have not been successful. A recent study attempted to determine how much influence, if any, genetic and lifestyle factors may have on the development of dementia.

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