personalized_medicine_01_txt

Since genetic variation also has a significant impact on disease risk, an important feature of personalized medicine will be preventive.  By having knowledge about the genetic predispositions of a particular individual for a particular disease, their physician will be able to focus on prevention and screening for those conditions.  Predisposition based screening should lead to earlier intervention in disease if it does occur.  In general, earlier diagnosis maximizes both successful treatment and often reduces the costs associated with treatment compared to later diagnosis, which often requires more costly treatments.