Most people know that Thanksgiving is a day for giving thanks and enjoying the company of family and friends, not to mention some delicious food. Fewer people know that, since 2004, Thanksgiving has also been designated as “Family Health History Day”. This is because large family gatherings are a great opportunity to start learning about any health issues that have been diagnosed in both close and extended family members.
How does this relate to our chromosome 18 families? Why is it important for these families of people with chromosome 18 to know their own family history? After all, duplications and deletions of chromosome 18 are generally not inherited. How can their family history make a difference?
First, knowledge about family history may provide clues about what to expect for the person with a chromosome 18 condition. Many of the health issues associated with these conditions are multifactorial. This means that they are caused by a combination of genetic changes and environmental factors. A family history that contains some of those health issues may influence that person’s likelihood to develop the same issue. For example, autoimmune conditions have been reported in individuals with 18p-.
Therefore, we know that there is some genetic risk factor for autoimmune disease on 18p. If someone with 18p- also has a family history of autoimmune disease, they may carry additional, non-chromosome 18 genetic risk factors. This person might be at a higher risk for autoimmune disease than another person with the same chromosome condition but without the same family history.
Second, it is possible to have more than one genetic condition within a family. A family history may provide clues about other conditions that you should be aware of, regardless of the chromosome 18 diagnosis. Knowledge about cancer diagnoses, heart problems, diabetes, and other health problems may provide insight into the risk to develop these problems. This in turn may prompt changes in health screening or lifestyle. In some cases, additional genetic testing may be considered.
For some tips about collecting family history and questions to ask, visit the CDC’s website on
Family Health History
. You can also use an
online tool
to enter and save your family’s history.
