New blood test for old age blueprint
A blood test and assessment which will help doctors plan future medical treatment for patients to live to a ripe old age has been developed by the CSIRO and is now on the market at the solid price of $650.
The test measures the level of damage to a person’s DNA and can point to the likelihood of possible degenerative conditions, including cancer, developing later in life.
It would also allow doctors to determine an optimum combination and level of supplements and suggest positive changes to lifestyle and diet to help repair DNA damage.
CSIRO principal scientist, Michael Fenech, said that evidence linking genome damage to degenerative diseases was increasing. “As we age our bodies produce poorer copies of DNA. Optimal intake of key nutrients is required if cells in the body are to make accurate copies of DNA and produce healthy daughter cells,” Dr Fenech said.
Research 100, which has commercialised the procedure, is hoping private health funds and the Federal Government may help cover some of the costs.
Research 100 director, Tim Edwards, said that the cost of the test and assessment was not cheap at the present $650 but it was hoped the price would drop significantly as potential sales increased.
