Q: There are lots of articles in the paper about genetic engineering and the treatment of disease. Are we soon going to be able to cure most diseases with genetic treatment?

A: It’s certainly true that we’ve learned more about genetics than ever, and there is potential to help treat a number of diseases. However, I personally don’t believe it’s wise to count on genetics as the savior of health care.

There is a tendency, as soon as genetic treatment is mentioned, for the media to start talking as though you’ll be able to forget about taking good care of your body and relying instead on medicine to “cure whatever ails you”. However, ask yourself a few questions. First, how much will it cost, particularly in a time when eighty million baby-boomers join Medicare? More and more high-tech procedures are being questioned as routine care on the basis of cost alone. There is a good chance future Medicare will have what we consider severe restrictions on the procedures patients receive.

Would you abuse your car, knowing you could always take it to the mechanic? (Interestingly, many people take better care of their cars than they do their bodies.) Is anything ever “as good as new” after it is repaired?

The prudent action would appear to be to take good care of the body you have now. Feed it nutritious food, don’t eat junk and get regular exercise.

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