Today is World DNA Day. As you may already know, DNA plays a major role in the development of ADOA. It is a hereditary disease in which the OPA1 gene is mutated. The chance that a child will inherit the mutated OPA1 gene from a parent with ADOA is 50%.
If ADOA runs in your family, this may be a reason to do genetic research. Not everyone does this, as there are pros and cons to it. We have listed 5 facts about hereditary research for you:
- The costs of genetic testing are covered by health insurance after referral
- New mutations can arise per person, you do not always inherit ADOA from your parents
- To prevent you from passing on the mutated OPA1 gene to your children, it is possible to opt for embryo selection if you wish to have children, for which the ADOA diagnosis must be confirmed with genetic testing.
- 5% of people with the mutated OPA1 gene experience no complaints, but they can pass on the gene
- Predisposition to a hereditary condition such as ADOA may have consequences for applying for life insurance and/or disability insurance
Read more about hereditary research, including personal considerations of fellow sufferers, on the page https://adoa.eu/erfelijkheidsonderzoek
