Dr. Sharon Hausman-Cohen: How to Address Dementia, Autism, and Other Chronic Diseases with Genomic Testing
Feb 21, 2024
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Dr. Sharon Hausman-Cohen, Chief Medical Officer at IntellxxDNA, specializes in the intersection of integrative medicine and genomics. In this engaging discussion, she unpacks the powerful role of genomic testing in personalized medicine, especially for conditions like dementia and autism. She explains the difference between genetics and genomics, highlighting how lifestyle can influence gene expression. Through compelling case studies, she reveals how tailored interventions can optimize health outcomes, emphasizing the urgent need for understanding genetic predispositions amid rising chronic disease rates.
Understanding genetic variations enables root cause elimination, not just symptom management for health issues.
Genomic testing aids in tackling cognitive decline by designing personalized interventions based on genetic factors.
Deep dives
Complexity of Genetic Contributions to Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cognitive decline, etc., are not caused by one gene variant but are influenced by multiple genes. For example, more than 1,000 genes contribute to diabetes, while around 20-30 major genes play a key role. Understanding these genetic variations can help identify the main contributors, enabling personalized interventions to optimize health outcomes.
The Power of Genomics in Personalized Medicine
Advances in genomics allow for personalized interventions based on an individual's genetic variations. By analyzing a person's genome, we can personalize lifestyle recommendations, diet choices, and supplementation to optimize health and prevent disease. This approach enables practitioners to determine root causes and eliminate health issues instead of just symptom management.
Revolutionary Treatment of Cognitive Decline
Genomic testing is playing a crucial role in understanding and addressing cognitive decline, including dementia. By analyzing genetic variations and other factors like toxins, inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies, personalized interventions can be designed. Research shows that such interventions can slow and even reverse cognitive decline, offering new hope and possibilities for improved outcomes.
Extending Genomic Approaches to Pediatric Mental Health
Genomics can also provide valuable insights into pediatric mental health conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and autism. By considering an individual's genetic variations, detoxification capacity, inflammation response, and nutrient needs, a personalized approach can be developed to optimize a child's well-being. Rather than labeling and medicating children, this approach tackles the root causes and puts them on a path towards better health.
Detox and Environmental Toxins
The podcast episode discusses the importance of understanding how genetic variations can impact detoxification pathways and how certain individuals may be more susceptible to environmental toxins. The speaker highlights that detoxification related to mercury pathways were not significantly impacted in the individual under discussion. However, when it comes to air pollution, the individual's genetic makeup demonstrates a higher vulnerability to converting air pollution into toxic chemicals, leading to potential health risks. The speaker suggests specific ways to support the functioning of these genes, such as consuming resveratrol from red grapes and terra stilbines from blueberries, to mitigate the adverse effects of the overactive gene (CYP1B1).
Inflammation and Brain Health
The podcast explores the genetic factors associated with inflammation and their impact on brain health. The individual being discussed has a lower level of the anti-inflammatory molecule interleukin 10 (IL 10), which can lead to increased inflammation and various conditions like chronic widespread pain, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease. The speaker explains that certain foods and compounds, including CBD, curcumin, and certain strains of bacteria, can increase IL 10 levels and help reduce inflammation. The individual's genetic profile is also associated with potential long-term effects on brain health, highlighting the importance of taking proactive measures like incorporating alpha lipoic acid, sulforaphane, and other supplements to support the brain and reduce inflammation.
Dr. Sharon Hausman-Cohen is the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of IntellxxDNA and has been in the field of integrative medicine for over 25 years. She is the co-author of many publications and a textbook chapter on using genomics to improve outcomes in cognitive decline and autism.
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In this episode we discuss (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):
What are genes and what do they do? (6:37 / 4:33)
Genetic predisposition does not mean predestined (9:22 / 7:18)
The difference between genetics vs genomics (13:10 / 11:06)
Polygenic risk scoring for chronic disease (18:18 / 16:14)
Dementia risk and treatment (33:59 / 29:24)
Mental and cognitive health issues in children (46:00 / 41:25)
The similarities between Autism and Alzheimer’s patients (49:49 / 45:14)
My genomic test results, specifically related to detoxification and osteoporosis (52:21 / 47:45)
