What is a Genetic Disposition and Can You Control It?

You may have heard that your genetic disposition determines your medical future. It’s all one big lie.

Yes, your genetic background and genetic variations do play a role in your overall health and disease risk. But that’s only part of the equation; there’s much more to know.

Read on to find out what a genetic disposition really is and whether you have control over it. We’ll touch on various topics, such as the relationship between genetics and health risks, epigenetics examples, lifestyle choices that can improve your genetic expression, and more.

What Is a Genetic Disposition?

Per the National Cancer Institute, a person’s genetic disposition (also called genetic susceptibility or genetic predisposition) refers to when your unique genes make you more likely to develop one or more genetic diseases (such as autoimmune diseases, mental illnesses, or cancer).

These dispositions originate from an inherited genetic variation – specific segments of genetic information from your biological parents.

Having a disposition doesn’t mean that you 100% will suffer from a given condition. But it does mean that you have a greater risk than someone who doesn’t have that predisposition. In addition to this, there are many factors determining the ultimate state of your health (read below for more information).

It’s Not Just Genetics: Other Factors That Shape Your Health Outcomes

It’s critical to understand that the food you eat, the beverages you drink, and the amount of time you spend sitting down or moving around all affect your health.

Think of these factors as the walls and roof of your “house”. They are all built upon the foundation: the genetic materials passed down from one family member to another – your parents, their parents, and so on.

People with a family history of diabetes have a higher risk of becoming diabetics. Those with a family history of heart disease have a relatively high risk of heart attack and stroke. People with family members who have cancer are more prone to various forms of cancer (lung cancer, breast cancer, etc.). There’s no denying that genetics plays a major role in our health and lifestyle.

But have you ever thought that your lifestyle, in fact, can affect your genes? We’ll touch on this essential component of health and well-being below.

What is Epigenetics and How Does it Work?

Epigenetics is a relatively new field of science that studies how your environment (including your lifestyle) controls your genetic activity.

Some of the main environmental factors and behaviors that can affect our health include, but are not limited to: 

• The amount of exercise you get on an average week or month;
• The level of air pollution in your local area;
• Environmental toxins you come in contact with;
• The type of diet you consume and the amount of food you eat overall;
• And more.

Without going into complex scientific jargon and concepts, epigenetics is all about gathering information about which genes are expressed and when. Although nearly every cell in your body contains the same DNA sequence, different cell types perform different functions through the activation and deactivation of specific genes. Chemical markers, also called epigenetic tags, affect how a gene is expressed.

Epigeneticists believe DNA isn’t set in stone and that the expression of the genetic code inherited from our parents and ancestors can be affected by things like diet and lifestyle habits.

Examples of Epigenetics in Action

As an example of epigenetics in action, the Nature Communications journal documented a study in Gambia that examined the effects diet had on pregnant women and their children.

The mothers’ pre-conception diet had a visible effect on the DNA passed on to their children. Mothers who ate a better diet produced children with higher levels of vital nutrients, while mothers who ate poorly produced children with lower levels of those same nutrients.

Another study focused on the effects of methylation, or methyl molecules attaching to strands of DNA. These methyl molecules actually affect genetic activity, essentially changing the way the genes are expressed.

Methylation occurs as a result of environmental agents, such as the addition or elimination of certain nutrients. Although the body removes most of this “genetic programming” during the earliest stages of conception (when the cells are just germ cells), it’s estimated that up to 5% of DNA cells retain the methylation. This proves that the “environmental programming” persists through conception and pregnancy tochildbirth and beyond.

What’s so important about this discovery? Simple: it means you have more control over your health than you’d think!

Your genetic material (the many genes that you inherit) is the foundation upon which the “house” of your health is built. However, thanks to the field of epigenetics, scientists have learned that the foundation can be altered. Environmental influences won’t change the actual DNA, but they will change the way your genes communicate with the rest of your body.

You may be able to reduce your risk of common diseases like obesity, diabetes, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and other health problems by using specific environmental factors to turn certain genes on or off.

Note: Epigenetics has also studied gene expression and genetic changes in autosomal dominant disorders, which can develop even if only one parent carries a specific gene. Some of them include polycystic kidney disease, Huntington’s disease, and Marfan syndrome.

Can Lifestyle Changes Control Genetic Expression?

Per current research, altering your lifestyle can change the way your genes express themselves. Factors like stress, diet, environmental exposure to toxins, behavior, and exercise can all affect genetic expression.

Understanding this makes it clear that you have a great deal of control over your health. Genes mean you’re pre-disposed to something, not fated for it.

How to Promote Healthy Genetic Expression

Exposing your body to the right environment (proper food, positive mental and emotional state, healthy lifestyle, more activity) can actually switch off the genes that promote: chronic disease, cancer, metabolic disease, and heart disease.

At the same time, it can activate genes that combat a particular disease. Your environment can affect the way your DNA is expressed: either positively or negatively.

Here are some lifestyle changes that could promote healthy genetic expression: 

• Eating methyl donor foods, such as eggs, liver, and fish, can provide your body with the necessary nutrients for methylation and contribute significantly to gene regulation.
• Adding foods that qualify as epi-bioactives. Some include fruits and veggies, broccoli and cauliflower, spices, coffee, and green tea. These foods and other epi-bioactives help to regulate enzymes that either erase or write epigenetic marks.
• Along with making healthy dietary changes, exercising (high intensity interval training, weightlifting, and even mild to moderate exercise) can also alter gene expression patterns. In particular, strength training/weightlifting can increase insulin sensitivity and fat-free mass, whereas high intensity interval training boosts cellular health and metabolism. Even those with cancer can benefit from adding 150 minutes of light physical activity (brisk walk on a treadmill) to their weekly routine – doing so increased tumor suppression gene expression.

Diet and exercise are two of the most important lifestyle changes people can make to positively affect genetic disposition.

But the below can also be helpful: 

• Stop smoking. Among the most influential risk factors for countless conditions, smoking has been discovered to turn off genes that guard against cancer. It’s also helpful to kick any other drug habit – certain drugs can alter gene expression in big ways, especially when it comes to mood and behavior.
• Take steps to control chronic stress and anxiety. Doing so can positively affect multiple genes. Meditation and mindfulness are excellent stress-reducers.

Can You Test For Genetic Predispositions?

Yes, you can get tested for genetic predispositions. This can be done through numerous types of genetic testing. You can get an at-home DNA/genetic test online or through your medical provider (to evaluate whether you have an increased risk for a certain disorder).

There are also clinical genetic tests (performed in a certified lab) and whole genome sequencing (where they look deeper into your genetic makeup).

Along with your results, you may be provided with a polygenic risk score, which tells you how your level of risk for a particular condition would compare to the general population of individuals who don’t have the same genetic constitution. These tests don’t give any information about potential disease severity.

Most of the time, to gain access to more formal testing options, there would have to be a medical reason for it. People who have unexplained health symptoms or who come from a family with certain inherited conditions may be good candidates for genetic testing.

Just remember that even if you’re found to have a genetic predisposition to one or more conditions, it doesn’t mean you’ll develop any of them.

Those who are interested in getting a clearer picture of their genetic health should seek genetic counseling. You may start with your primary care physician, who will refer you to the right professional/medical practice.

Epigenetic Inheritance: Improving Future Generations

The importance of epigenetics should never be understated, as it has the potential to change the future in significant ways. Think about it – you can pass genetic expression on to your children through epigenetic inheritance.

In other words, lifestyle and environmental factors can influence your genes to the point that you pass on healthy DNA to your children. As the above-mentioned study proved, a healthy parent (mother and father alike) gives their child a better chance of being healthy as well.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a mental disposition?

A mental disposition is a way of thinking or feeling following an event or situation. It may range from optimistic to resilient to pessimistic and more. You might react in various ways depending on how you’re feeling in the moment. Although mental health dispositions can change over time, they may not in some cases; what’s more, your genes may help to shape your mental disposition.

Is there a genetic predisposition to anxiety?

According to scientists at Yale University, yes, there are genetic predispositions to anxiety. Sometimes, individuals with anxiety have children who end up with the same disease. In a study of over 1 million people in multiple worldwide cohorts, it was discovered that over 100 genes play a part in the development or worsening of anxiety. If these genes are activated, you have an increased likelihood of developing disorders associated with anxiety. There are preventive measures you can take to reduce your overall risk; for tailored advice, reach out to a medical professional.

Is violence inherited?

Violence may be inherited in some cases; certain genes from first and second-degree relatives may predispose individuals to develop violent tendencies. However, a person’s upbringing, substance abuse, self-esteem issues, and more may increase someone’s chances of committing an act of violence. So, genes should not be considered the only factor or explanation for one or more instances of aggression.

Sources

Genetic Predisposition

Epigenetics

Epigenetics Cleveland Clinic

Proof Epigenetics is Real: Study Confirms Mother’s Diet Changes Gene Expression in Offspring

Labiotech – News and Blogs

Epigenetics in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Nutrition and Epigenetics: How Diet Affects Gene Expression

Epigenetics: taking greater control of your health and wellness

Study finds smoking tobacco causes mutations that directly disable the genes protecting us from cancer

The Molecular Basis of Drug Addiction: Linking Epigenetic to Synaptic and Circuit Mechanisms

Yale Scientists Uncover Genetic Predisposition to Anxiety

What Is Cellular Senescence and How It Affects Aging