5 ms·

I wonder how far away we are from the future where a blood sample is able to predict your propensity for a huge range of possible ailments (from Alzheimer’s to

I wonder how far away we are from the future where a blood sample is able to predict your propensity for a huge range of possible ailments (from Alzheimer’s to the flu). Feels very sci-fi, but also within reach.

escapecharacter 5y ago
Elizabeth Holmes has something she'd like you to invest in.
- comeonseriously 5y ago
  The Authority Voice Changer(tm). Tiny hidden device that will deepen your voice to give it more authority.
  - neilv 5y ago
    That particular thing seems to be about someone feeling they have to change some superficial trait, to get past prejudices.
rossdavidh 5y ago
Probably depends on your definition of "huge range". It's already possible for several different ailments. Of course, there's only the incentive to do it if, upon knowing such a thing, you can do something about it.
minsc__and__boo 5y ago
This is already possible for certain genetic disorders. For late-life diseases though, it's likely they are linked to exposure to something during the individuals lifetime (i.e. parkinson's disease from pesticide exposure) and genetic makeup can only predict probabilities for susceptibility. Alzheimer's specifically is thought to be linked to chronic aluminum exposure (e.g. water treatment, antiperspirant deodorant, etc.).
- xkqd 5y ago
  Do you have any sources on the antiperspirant bit? I feel like this has entered the influencer zeitgeist, but antiperspirants have been around forever and I have yet to see any studies linking the two.
  - Nursie 5y ago
    Antiperspirant has been linked to all sorts of things, so far with little to no evidence. A few years ago it was breast cancer. It seems to be a favourite target among the alt-inclined crowd.
- tmountain 5y ago
  I don't believe that your anecdote about aluminum exposure has been scientifically validated. "At present, there is no strong evidence to support the fears that coming in to contact with metals through using equipment or through food or water increases your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease." https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/metals-and-dementia https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-an...
  - minsc__and__boo 5y ago
    That's why I said "thought to" instead of "proven to". There is enough evidence to show that aluminum in drinking water accelerates Alzheimer's [1], while the antiperspirant is hypothesized, but not proven or disproven yet. [1] https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/152/1/59/139168 https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/152/1/59/139168
- burnished 5y ago
  I thought PD and Alzheimers were both related/correlated to a misfolded protein that no one understands why it fucks up?
propensity5 5y ago
What do you think the purpose of 23andMe was? To collect data on everybody. That combined with the constant covid testing, is allowing them collect a massive amount of data. I've read they already have (relatively crude) bio-weapons that can target specific genomic sequences. The data they are now getting will allow them to improve upon it dramatically.
- millzlane 5y ago
  >I've read they already have (relatively crude) bio-weapons that can target specific genomic sequences. The data they are now getting will allow them to improve upon it dramatically. Do you have a source for this claim?
  - rolph 5y ago
    https://guardian.ng/features/health/bioweapons-designed-to-kill-only-people-of-particular-race/ https://guardian.ng/features/health/bioweapons-designed-to-k... [2019]
- travisd 5y ago
  Conspiracy theories aside, it’s true that there’s still a long way to go with respect to privacy for this kind of data.
- jodrellblank 5y ago
  Who is "they"?
jedberg 5y ago
I don't think there will be some massive change in the number one day. We can already detect some things in the blood. I suspect we'll just keep slowly adding things we can detect and eventually it will get cheap enough to make it worth doing for everyone.
didntknowya 5y ago
your blood doesn't contain everything to fight every sickness just waiting around all day. some molecules/enzymes/structures are only made in response to a disease- so i'd say analyzing DNA/RNA capability would be more useful than analysis what's currently floating around in the blood.

escapecharacter 5y ago

Elizabeth Holmes has something she'd like you to invest in.

comeonseriously 5y ago
The Authority Voice Changer(tm). Tiny hidden device that will deepen your voice to give it more authority.
- neilv 5y ago
  That particular thing seems to be about someone feeling they have to change some superficial trait, to get past prejudices.

rossdavidh 5y ago

Probably depends on your definition of "huge range". It's already possible for several different ailments. Of course, there's only the incentive to do it if, upon knowing such a thing, you can do something about it.

minsc__and__boo 5y ago

This is already possible for certain genetic disorders. For late-life diseases though, it's likely they are linked to exposure to something during the individuals lifetime (i.e. parkinson's disease from pesticide exposure) and genetic makeup can only predict probabilities for susceptibility. Alzheimer's specifically is thought to be linked to chronic aluminum exposure (e.g. water treatment, antiperspirant deodorant, etc.).

xkqd 5y ago
Do you have any sources on the antiperspirant bit? I feel like this has entered the influencer zeitgeist, but antiperspirants have been around forever and I have yet to see any studies linking the two.
- Nursie 5y ago
  Antiperspirant has been linked to all sorts of things, so far with little to no evidence. A few years ago it was breast cancer. It seems to be a favourite target among the alt-inclined crowd.
tmountain 5y ago
I don't believe that your anecdote about aluminum exposure has been scientifically validated. "At present, there is no strong evidence to support the fears that coming in to contact with metals through using equipment or through food or water increases your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease." https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/metals-and-dementia https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-an...
- minsc__and__boo 5y ago
  That's why I said "thought to" instead of "proven to". There is enough evidence to show that aluminum in drinking water accelerates Alzheimer's [1], while the antiperspirant is hypothesized, but not proven or disproven yet. [1] https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/152/1/59/139168 https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/152/1/59/139168
burnished 5y ago
I thought PD and Alzheimers were both related/correlated to a misfolded protein that no one understands why it fucks up?

propensity5 5y ago

What do you think the purpose of 23andMe was? To collect data on everybody. That combined with the constant covid testing, is allowing them collect a massive amount of data. I've read they already have (relatively crude) bio-weapons that can target specific genomic sequences. The data they are now getting will allow them to improve upon it dramatically.

millzlane 5y ago
>I've read they already have (relatively crude) bio-weapons that can target specific genomic sequences. The data they are now getting will allow them to improve upon it dramatically. Do you have a source for this claim?
- rolph 5y ago
  https://guardian.ng/features/health/bioweapons-designed-to-kill-only-people-of-particular-race/ https://guardian.ng/features/health/bioweapons-designed-to-k... [2019]
travisd 5y ago
Conspiracy theories aside, it’s true that there’s still a long way to go with respect to privacy for this kind of data.
jodrellblank 5y ago
Who is "they"?

jedberg 5y ago

I don't think there will be some massive change in the number one day. We can already detect some things in the blood. I suspect we'll just keep slowly adding things we can detect and eventually it will get cheap enough to make it worth doing for everyone.

didntknowya 5y ago

your blood doesn't contain everything to fight every sickness just waiting around all day. some molecules/enzymes/structures are only made in response to a disease- so i'd say analyzing DNA/RNA capability would be more useful than analysis what's currently floating around in the blood.