Genetics and Genetic Disorders

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Genetics and Genetic Disorders

Do Gene Mutations Explain COVID-19 Cases in the Young?

Genetic mutations that put some younger people at high risk for severe illness from the new...
Prostate Cancer Leaves Detectable ‘Fingerprint’ in Blood: Study

A test that can detect the genetic “fingerprint” of prostate cancer in blood could improve diagnosis,...
Gene Variation May Protect Against Alzheimer’s: Study

A breakthrough study has identified a class of natural gene variants that may protect against Alzheimer’s...

More Genetics and Genetic Disorders News

Newer Gene Sequencing Might Help Track Spread of Latest Coronavirus in China
As China races to stem the spread of a new coronavirus that has now...
- Posted January 31, 2020
- 14
Veterans’ Study Shows Genetic Origins of Anxiety
New research involving the DNA of 200,000 U.S. veterans suggests that there really is...
- Posted January 10, 2020
- 10
She Never Smoked — And Got Lung Cancer in Her 40s
Nikki Moreno had spent nearly a year struggling for breath, and nothing seemed to...
- Posted December 17, 2019
- 14
‘Don’t Give Up:’ Parents’ Intuition Spots a Rare Illness Before Doctors Do
Parents usually know their child better than anyone, and if a parent suspects something...
- Posted November 19, 2019
- 25
Gene Test Might Someday Gauge Your Cardiac Arrest Risk
Sudden cardiac death is terrifying because it’s exactly that — one minute you’re fine...
- Posted November 18, 2019
- 13
Exercise Can Help Prevent Depression, Even for Those at High Risk
Getting more exercise could help ward off depression, even if you have a genetic...
- Posted November 6, 2019
- 11
For This Mom, Rare Bone Disease Is a Family Affair
Most people expect some risk in activities like mountain biking or rollerblading, but few...
- Posted September 13, 2019
- 15

Are You Living with Psoriasis?

A growing knowledge of the skin disease called psoriasis is leading to greater treatment choices, including personalized therapies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports.

Psoriasis is an immune system disorder that causes overproduction of skin cells, resulting in scaling, pain, swelling, redness and heat. The condition affects about 7.5 million Americans.

“As we better understand the disease, researchers know more about what specific factors to target in order to develop effective treatments,” FDA dermatologist Dr. Melinda McCord said in an agency news release.

There is no cure for psoriasis, so the main goals of treatments are to stop skin cell overproduction and reduce inflammation. Current therapies include medicines applied to the skin (topical), light treatment (phototherapy), or drugs taken by mouth or given by injection.

Doctors used to take a step-by-step approach, starting patients with mild to moderate psoriasis on topical therapy. If that was ineffective, doctors moved on to phototherapy or drug treatment.