Genetic testing and genetic counseling in antiaging medicine: Recommendations for a correct assessment

In the last years there has been an increasing interest in the genetic testing applied to antiaging medicine. The object of this paper is to evaluate the state-of-the-art in the use of susceptibility genetic markers to determine risks for the most prevalent age-related diseases and, at the same time, we have to clarify that genetic testing is not only the DNA sample laboratory process it is also the correct interpretation of the results and consequences of the test being all them an integral part of a genetic counseling process. Correct assessment of these genetic markers gives the key to make an accurate prediction and to design a success preventive intervention but it depends on how we do the whole process. It is preferable that every specialists involved in this analytical procedure must be familiar with the appropriate uses of genetic testing and they have to be able to interpret results. Thus, this paper will try to provide preliminary recommendations for genetic testing and genetic counseling in the particular preventive medicine which is really the antiaging medicine available today. In the first place, we have to determine which pathologies are more suitable to evaluate in the antiaging consultation and which others have to be analyzed in a more specialized health service. At the same time, it is important to take into account that genetic susceptibility markers requires careful validation and only under this assumption we could use them to carry out risk assessment and propose a screening protocol. On the other hand, we have to consider the multifactorial model. According to this model, genetic factors have to be evaluated considering their interaction with other non-genetic variables. The interplay between a particular genetic makeup (non-modifiable factors) and exposure to environmental factors (modifiable risk factors) will determine an individual's risk for age-related changes and diseases.