The largest study to date to analyze millions of both genetic and patient records on the long-term health conditions of later life has identified opportunities for new ways to prevent and treat multiple overlapping conditions. 

Currently, nine million people in the UK live with two or more long-term conditions at the same time – known as multimorbidity. Their treatment accounts for half of the NHS budget. 

Led by the University of Exeter Medical School and funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the GEMINI study looked at both genetics and clinical information from more than three million people in the UK and Spain. 

Published today in eBioMedicine research has identified genetic overlaps in 72 long-term health conditions associated with ageing, to identify where specific genes are linked to two or more conditions. With more than 2,500 combinations of conditions analyzed, the programme aims to unlock cases where a drug or prevention strategies can prevent or delay the onset of multimorbidity. It also revealed genetic connections that explain why certain conditions may be more likely to co-occur in the same patient. 

Curtesy: AZoLifeSciences
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