The majority of parents appear to respond positively to having their children genetically tested for adult-onset risk of conditions and illnesses – known as predictive genetic testing, researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington revealed in the journal Pediatrics. They added that their findings and those of some other studies should make pediatricians aware that parents may opt for predictive genetic tests for themselves and their kids, and also seek out professional advice on how to respond to their results.

Today, there is a wide range of genetic tests which can be purchased online or at pharmacies. Typically, they are aimed at adults. Lead author, Kenneth P. Tercyak, PhD, believes that it will not be long before children become the marketing target of many of these tests.

Tercyak said:

“The findings of our study should remind clinicians and policy-makers to consider children when regulating genetic tests. These tests usually don’t offer a clean bill of health and can be hard to interpret even in the best scenario. They identify incremental risks for many common diseases. Most people carry some risk based on a combination of their family history, genetics, and lifestyle. A child’s unexpected test results could trigger negative reactions among parents and children, and lead to conversations at the pediatrician’s office that providers aren’t prepared to have.”

This study forms part of a wider one by the National Human Genome Research Institute at the NIH (National Institute of Health) which is looking into people’s use of genetic tests.

The researchers gathered data on 219 parents who had been offered adult predictive genetic tests for eight adult-onset health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, lung cancer, skin cancer and colon cancer.

The participants were asked to express the pros and cons of predictive genetic testing for kids. They were also asked whether they would be interested in having their kids tested if these tests were made available for them.

The authors stress that no child underwent any test during this study.

Unsurprisingly, the investigators noticed that the most interest was among parents who wanted tests for themselves. The majority of parents saw virtually no difference between the advantages and disadvantages for themselves and their kids. They tended to favor having the information and believed this could result in better long-term health maintenance, prevention, and some other benefits for their child.

A number of professional organizations are not in favor of testing children for adult-onset disease risk, especially when there is no evidence to show that this would reduce disease rates or mortality through interventions initiated earlier on.

However, Tercyak said:

“Genetic testing for common disease risk could usher in a new era of personalized medicine. Someday, this type of information could help jump start conversations about lifestyle risks, and ways pediatricians can help parents and children reduce risk through healthier eating and exercise habits and avoiding tobacco and other substances. We still need to learn more about how to support families regarding choices on genetic tests and in adopting lifestyle changes, and what role high quality genetic information could play in those conversations.”

Kirsten B. Hawkins, MD, MPH, who works at Georgetown University Medical Center but was not involved in the study, said:

“I counsel teens who are overweight and who have other concerns about their health because of certain diseases that run in the family.” (Kirsten added that educating families about disease risks is a key part of prevention and wellness). “Someday, the results of pediatric genetic tests could better inform these conversations. For now, encouraging parents and their children to avoid smoking, consume a well-balanced diet, and stay active are good advice for remaining healthy.”

“Parents’ Attitudes Toward Pediatric Genetic Testing for Common Disease Risk”
Kenneth P. Tercyak, PhDa, Sharon Hensley Alford, PhDb, Karen M. Emmons, PhDc, Isaac M. Lipkus, PhDd, Benjamin S. Wilfond, MDe, Colleen M. McBride, PhD
PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2010-0938)

Written by Christian Nordqvist