Genetic Link to Crohn's and Colitis Found

[mikeyarmo]

I am sorry if this has been previously shared, but I did not see it. The CCFA released news in October in regards to some of their research.

http://ccfa.org/about/press/il23

Some key points:

• 1.4 million Americans have IBD
• il-23 is thought to be responsible for the inflammation that occurs with IBD
• medications can be made to better control inflammation by being directed at il-23

All in all this is good news and makes it seem more likely that people do likely have some genetics that make them more likely to get IBD. This may make it easier to develop treatments against the disease, as a more permanent treatment option may be developed.

 

[Valentina]

thanks for sharing Mike.. I have to say that Ive been hoping it wasnt genetics that played a part at all (My own selfish reasons)
but I suppose that the more they know the more amunition they have to fight it, and keep us on an uphill healthy path with all this.

 

[Jeff D.]

Thats cool I hope they get a cure made soon.

 

[mikeyarmo]

Negative reasons for IBD being genetic

I have to say that Ive been hoping it wasnt genetics that played a part at all (My own selfish reasons)

I know this can make one guilty about having children, but I think other things need to be considered. Firstly a genetic link does not mean it is passed onto all children, as both parents have different genes and it is a combination of each parent's that are given to the child. Even if both parents have IBD, there is no proof that they will pass on all the IBD genetic links to their children. It seems that there are still thought to be several predispositions to IBD that are possible, so parents may each have different ones. This means that a child is still likely to be perfectly healthy, even if both parents have IBD.

Also, all of these new findings make it more likely for better treatments to be discorvered/created and more likely that a cure will be found.

I do not know wha the exact "selfish" reasons you may have Valentina, but the truth is this disease is most likely a combination of a variety of factors (including genetic, enviornmental and maybe even some others no one has really considered). Do not let your disease stop you from leading the life you want to live or effect the decisions you make in life.

 

[Dekar]

When I have kids I'm just not gonna give them cow milk ever. Hey, people in ancient times didnt suck the utters of a cow for nutrition and they didnt have the disease