When I made the decision a few years back to get serious about longevity and healthspan, it was recommended that I have my genetic code read. A saliva sample sent off to 23andMe generated a detailed report that laid out all of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are unique to me. Working closely with my doctors allowed me to identify specific SNPs that are meaningful to how we might live and die.

As an example, I carry one copy of the APO4 gene, aka the Alzheimer's gene. This means at least one of my parents carry at least one copy of the APO4 gene. Why does this matter? Having one copy of the APO4 increases chances of Alzheimer's to 30%, up from 7% for those with no copies. If you happen to have two copies of APO4, then your chances are between 50-90%!!!
So, though there isn't a pill to fix Alzheimer's disease or other horrible forms of dementia, there are certain lifestyle interventions that over the last 10-15 years have been proven to stop and even reverse symptoms brought on by these afflictions. I've personally followed Dr. Dale Bredesen's ReCODE protocol in the years since becoming aware of my APO4 gene. His End of Alzheimer's books are required reading for anyone carrying these genes who would like a shot at having a healthy brain into their 90's.

Our SNPs influence what we should be eating/not eating, the supplements we should be taking/not taking and the kinds of exercise and other behaviors that best suit us. Many people can share details about the diagnostics of their new fancy car but don't know their own basic info like blood type, resting heart rate or blood glucose. We're blindly eating specific diets and taking a lot of random supplements without taking the time to look under the hood to see what our system actually NEEDS based on the code that created us.

Bottom-line, if you are interested in living a long and healthy life (and especially if you have children), it's a no-brainer to spend a few dollars to see what you're made of...