Digital health company provides answers and guidance to help people with positive APOE result.
NEW HAVEN, CONN. (PRWEB) JUNE 04, 2019
My Gene Counsel, a digital health company that provides personalized, easy-to-understand, web-based genetic counseling, today announced that the company has expanded its content to include reports for those who test positive for a variant in the APOE gene through 23andMe’s consumer DNA testing. The expansion is another step in My Gene Counsel’s goal to service the entire range of genetic test results.
The APOE gene, which is responsible for creating a protein that helps maintain normal levels of cholesterol and fats in the bloodstream, is associated with varying risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
“Although most experts do not recommend genetic testing for APOE, we saw a need to expand our digital genetic counseling content because of the direct-to-consumer testing currently available in the marketplace,” said Ellen Matloff, president and CEO of My Gene Counsel. “Understanding your risk for Alzheimer’s based on genetics is complicated. Having access to genetic counseling is important to help consumers better interpret and manage the results.”
My Gene Counsel offers personalized Living Lab Reports® that help users understand the meaning of genetic test results, evaluate options for next steps, and guide family members through the implications of the results. The content in the reports is:
- Specific to the individual gene variants or alleles
- Written by clinical genetics experts and vetted by patient advocates
- Translated into health care provider and patient-friendly language
- Interpreted by an unbiased third-party and not by a testing company
- Continually updated with the latest information as new research unfolds
“A consumer DNA test can estimate your risk, but it does not help you deal with the emotional consequences of having that information or planning for a future that might include a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s,” said Matloff. “Our Living Lab Reports help address the questions and concerns that will inevitably come up about things like genetic risk alleles versus genetic diagnoses, medical management, insurance, and family planning.”
23andMe, which received approval from the FDA in April 2017 to offer genetic information on certain health risks, identifies whether someone has one or two copies of the ε4 variant in the APOE gene. This genetic marker is associated with an increased risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s, the most common form of the disease. However, it cannot tell for certain whether someone will or will not develop Alzheimer’s. Variations in multiple genes, together with lifestyle and environmental factors, all play a role in determining a person’s risk.
About My Gene Counsel
My Gene Counsel is a digital health company that provides easy-to-understand, web-based genetic counseling reports to patients directly or through enterprise partners. The company is the only genetics resource used in the market today that is designed for digital and mobile access, is available 24/7/365, and delivers comprehensive content created by medical experts and patient advocates. Their result-specific solution provides genetic guidance that updates as research and critical new information emerges. For more information, visit http://www.mygenecounsel.com.