Personalized Medicine - The Future of Healthcare

Personalized Medicine

Picture a situation where you are sick, and you visit a physician who prescribes medication and treatment based on your blood type, dietary habits, and your home surroundings. It is not a fantasy but is the best prediction of a revolutionary concept called personalized medicine that is driving the healthcare system in the 21st century. Historically, medications have been developed by focusing on population averages, where all individuals are presumed to respond to the medicines similarly. But each of us is unique. People and their genetic quirks, physical build, and health issues are as diverse as the number of stars in the sky. Individualized medicine is aware of this diversity and tries to capitalize on it for therapeutic benefits. Thus, the key to personalized healthcare is integrating us as unique individuals with our body schedules and needs. With the ability to decipher our genetic code, we can sequence the human genome quickly at low costs. Doctors know the genes associated with diseases and those that influence response to a specific drug. With this information, doctors can recommend treatments that are not only efficacious but also episodic to genotypes. 

The concept of personalized medicine is not limited to disease management but extends to detecting and screening for diseases. A famous example of this would be the world-renowned Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, who underwent a "Radical Mastectomy" following genetic screening for predisposition to breast cancer and detection of BRCA1, exponentially increasing her risk. So, armed with this knowledge and the opinion of a group of experts, she underwent the removal of both breast tissues to permanently eliminate the risk of developing breast cancer. Another area where detection is relevant is in newborn screening for disorders of metabolism like Phenylketonuria, galactosemia, Maple syrup urine disease, and various endocrine disorders linked to organs like the thyroid and adrenal glands. These advances positively impact morbidity and mortality rates and are widely utilized in neonatal medicine. Successive generations are mapping the human genome to doctors to screen and detect various disorders and derive preventive plans for individuals. From a logistics standpoint, genetic tests often require minimal patient involvement and discomfort, as a small quantity of saliva is enough to sequence the entire human genome. Thus, the ease of testing lends itself well to changing medical care from a treatment-based practice to health maintenance and preservation. Of course, the advancement and adoption of this new paradigm comes with unique problems, such as ethical issues in genetic privacy and the economic distribution of such modern-day technologies. Implementing concepts of human genetic sciences into clinical practice involves impressive accomplishments in the didactic and education of healthcare professionals. 

However, the future of personalized medicine seems promising and has the potential to become the next generation of therapy. The patient-oriented treatment style is safer and tailored to individual needs. It makes the person responsible for his well-being with knowledge about genetic predisposition to diseases and the available treatment plans. The implementation of personalized medicine depends on cooperation between scientists, practitioners, legislators, and patients. Collectively, we can help build a health service that is civil, efficient, and acknowledges genetic uniqueness. With our genome leading the way to the future state, that is GOOD HEALTH.