Focus on preventing genetic diseases

Although drugs are being developed to try and control genetic diseases, more focus should be on prevention, experts say.

Since diseases like muscular dystrophy and Huntingtons Disease are passed down through generations, it is possible to prevent their spread, according to S.H. Subramony, professor of neurology and paediatrics at the McKnight Brain Institute at University of Florida.

He was delivering the Neurokrish Lecture during the fourth anniversary celebrations of TRIMED, a Chennai-based healthcare start-up focussed on chronic diseases, on Saturday.

Most people may not develop a genetic disease till they are 40 or 50, by which time they would have already had children. Instead, if people who have a history of genetic diseases in their family are tested, they can make an informed choice of whether to have children or not, says Dr. Subramony.

Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy, founder and director of TRIMED, says they are working towards integrating modern medicine with traditional systems like Ayurveda and yoga. We are looking at tying up with doctors and working together to provide overall treatment, he says.

An exhibition of work by and of people with disabilities was launched on the occasion. The exhibition will be on at the four TRIMED centres in Teynampet, Anna Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur and Velachery.

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Focus on preventing genetic diseases