if a relative developed a disease after I was born, would I be at higher risk to get it? why so?

Question

I always wondered this, but I never knew what the answer to this was. for example if my relative developed diabetes after I was born, would I be still be at higher risk at getting it. something like that. if that is true, then how does it work? sorry if I sound stupid

In: 1

Answer 1

Diabetes probably isn’t the best example. As there are different kinds of diabetes. Most people (at least in the USA) who have diabetes have Type 2. Type 2 is generally self inflicted by being obese for many years.

Type 1 diabetes is what most children get and is often genetic.

Now they are finding that some forms of Type 2 diabetes may have a genetic component. But at the same time.. if you watch your diet then you could still avoid it (cut your carbs). Whereas Type 1 you have no control over really.

But like say.. Multiple Sclerosis (MS). My grandmother had this. It’s not hereditary.. but the chances of getting it do go up with more genetic markers. Thankfully I didn’t get it.

Now.. my next door neighbors have an MS type condition that looks alot like MS. Loss of control over muscles putting them into wheelchairs. It’s genetic but doesn’t develop until they get older. So none of the kids had symptoms. Symptoms start in their 30’s. But they were born with it. Once the genetic sequence was found.. now they can be tested and know that they have it and will very likely become disabled as they get older. But they were three generations in before the grandfather was diagnosed (he had been misdiagnosed as having MS). So it was well spread throughout the family. All three kids had it and 3/4 of the grandkids and at least one great-grandchild before they even knew there was a problem.

So.. it really depends on the condition.