A few months back, I wrote an article entitled ”The Coming Health Care Revolution” in which I discussed the startling advances in the field of genomics. To provide readers a better sense of how fast things are happening, I’d like to highlight the news just from today.
I began my morning by reading this article discussing how researchers in Georgia believe they have identified a gene which plays a significant role in causing Alzheimer’s. Next, I stumbled across this BBC report reviewing how smoking causes genetic changes which limit the production of a protein believed to be helpful in preventing lung cancer. Finally, there was this report on Physorg discussing how the gene—GLUT2—might be linked to obesity.
It is, of course, too early to discern the true implications of all of these findings but the signs are promising and suggest that in the not-too-distant future society will develop more effective means of both preventing and treating some of today’s leading health care problems, including Alzheimer’s, lung cancer and obesity.
All in all the progress isn’t bad day’s work; and the future, I’d argue, is even more promising due to the accelerating pace of change in the field of genomics. (To this point, last week researchers at the University of Oklahoma found a gene they believe plays a role in breast, pancreas, colon, ovarian and prostate cancer.)
Interested in other health care-related posts? Check out these recent articles:
The Future of Health Care: Preventing Disease
Health Care Providers Need a Second Life
The Future of Health Care: Part 3 (Robotics)
The Robot Will See You Now
Hospitals Robotic Future: Part 2
Hospitals Robotic Future: Part 1
Hospitals Get a Lift
Jack Uldrich is a writer, futurist, public speaker and host of jumpthecurve.net. He is the author of seven books, including Jump the Curve and The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business. He is also a frequent speaker on future trends, innovation, change management and executive leadership to a variety of businesses, industries and non-profit organizations and associations.
