🧬 You are defined by your DNA. It’s only natural to be skeptical about handing it over to someone else.
But sci-fi fears of cloning, mass extinction or biological warfare may not be real concerns when it comes to genetics testing.
Instead, your DNA could be holding powerful and largely untapped longevity potential, says Dahlia Attia-King, founder and CEO of Panacea, a clinical genetic testing company, in an interview with Livelong.
“Clinical genetic testing is one of the most powerful disease prevention tools we have,” she says.
So where does the fear and mistrust come from—and is it warranted?
Genetic Testing: A Crystal Ball
image credit: freepik and canva
🔮 Genetic testing can act like a ‘crystal ball,’ offering insights into risk for certain diseases. Knowing your risk allows you to take proactive steps to prevent or delay the condition, Dahlia explains.
That might mean:
🩺 Getting screened earlier for certain cancers or heart disease
🩸 Monitoring relevant biomarkers (i.e., blood pressure, lipoprotein A)
🧠 Seeing a specialist sooner—like a neurologist or a cardiologist
Clinical vs. non-clinical genetic testing: Know the difference
Genetic testing analyzes DNA, chromosomes, and proteins. There are many types of sequencing, but the two main types include non-clinical (23andMe) and clinical genetic testing.
Non-clinical genetic testing:
Traces ancestry 🗺️
Flags general traits or risk factors
Uses limited sequencing tech
❌ Cannot guide medical decisions
Clinical genetic testing:
Requires a doctor’s prescription
Uses next-generation sequencing
✔️ Can guide medical care
Caveats, Confusion, and Distrust
image credit: freepik
Public mistrust in genetic testing grew in 2023, when the personal demographic information of millions of 23andMe users was leaked in a data breach. Think names, addresses, and genetic heritage. By 2025, 23andMe was filing for bankruptcy. 🚨
The situation raises two major concerns:
Identity theft: Hackers that get access to leaked personal information can impersonate users and do more cybercriminal acts, says Lily Hay Newman, an expert in hacking and writer at Wired.
Data privacy: When 23andMe gets a new owner, they get access to millions of user’s genetic/demographic information; conflicting data privacy laws raise concerns about how the company can use people’s information.
So should you be worried about your genomic data in clinical genetic testing?
Dahlia says that there are not many “nefarious things” that can be done with genetic information right now, and many clinical testing companies store demographic and clinical data separately—this makes it harder to link your DNA sample to your identity.
Clinical labs also face stricter privacy and ethical standards than consumer platforms like 23andMe.
Still, researchers at University of California, Davis, have shown that leaked genetic data can be used to reconstruct parts of the genome—and BBC also warns about the potential for genetic discrimination.
For instance, companies with less than 15 people may not be subject to GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act); in context, this means a small bank can theoretically deny long-term mortgage loans to people with certain genetic risks—say Alzheimer's risk. Lifecare insurance companies are not subject to GINA either.
Even if you haven’t done a genetic test, your DNA is probably already in the system via bloodwork, swabs, and skin biopsies—and you likely signed a consent form (the one “nobody reads at your doctor's office,” Dahlia says) which can allow the sample to be stored or used in various applications.
Medical privacy laws like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) provide protection for clinical and provider-led testing, but they do not cover data collected by apps, websites, and other third-party direct-to-consumer testing companies.
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Waiting for it’s longevity moment
image credit: freepik
Clinical genetic testing for longevity is still in its early days and mostly preventative, but the true potential could be curative.
A 2020 paper shows that 87% of patients and caregivers believe sharing genetic data is important for curing incurable diseases. 46% say it is significant for developing new treatments.
That is why choosing to share genomic information can actually propel longevity medicine and accelerate new medicine discovery.
“When we understand what our genes are doing and what they're potentially making mistakes on–in regards to our health–we could potentially design drugs to fix those genetic mistakes,” Dahlia says.
You only need to do it once in your life—after all, genes never change—meaning the knowledge is lifelong.
There may be real socioeconomic incentive too.
In Brazil, a new piloting a program called dWallet is testing a model in which customers get paid for sharing digital data (including health information), writes Rest of World.
🧑💻 As wearables, blood tests, and biotechnology make it easier to track health, some experts say that the future of personalized care will combine our genetic information with data from these tools to provide better health insights on personal and societal levels.
The Wild West of Genetics?
🏇 The genetics space is still a Wild West that can be “nasty…convoluted,” Dahlia says. With no standardized practices, it’s up to each company to be ethical and protect user data.
That’s where a checklist can come in handy.
Genetic testing checklist: ✅
Work with a CLIA and/or CAP-certified lab: These labs have met all necessary safety standards.
Read the fine print: Work with clinical testing companies that are clear about what they will do with your data, and allow you to choose what it is used for.
Whole exome sequencing: This comprehensive genetic sequencing method offers the most accurate and in-depth results.
Transparency is the future
The future of genetics must be built on unparalleled trust, she says.
Give users full control over their data
Be open about collection methods
Ask for consent before sharing data
Have a licensed doctor help interpret results
On average, it takes 25 years for a drug to get approved after the right genetic target is discovered, Front Line Genomics writes. That’s why some experts argue the time to start contributing is now.
But it’s about working with trustworthy clinical companies who will use genetic information to help guide health decisions, accelerate breakthroughs, prevent disease, all while keeping your identity safe.
“If there's no trust, there is no future,” Dahlia says.
🧬 Even though you can’t change your genes, you can change how they’re expressed
Lifestyle tools promote healthy gene expression:
🙆 Exercise: Boosts mitochondrial and metabolic gene health.
🦠 Gut microbiome: Fermented foods and prebiotics positively shift gene expression, boosting mood, immunity, and metabolism.
🧘 Meditation: Prevents inflammatory gene expression caused by stress, reducing the risk of DNA damage and disease.
💤 Sleep: Supports DNA repair and protects against neurodegeneration in genetically high-risk adults.
🥦 Nutrition: Proper nutrition optimizes cellular functioning and activates genes linked to health and disease prevention.
💊 Supplements: Folate, B12, resveratrol, and NAD+ might boost cellular repair and extend telomeres.
Until next time,
The information provided about wellness and health is for general informational and educational purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals, and the content here should not be considered medical advice. Talk to a doctor before trying any of these suggestions.
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