The
observation of numerous individual differences in the biology of humans
necessitates an understanding of one’s own personal biological makeup because
deviations from these healthy “baselines” can potentially serve as early
detection markers of preclinical disease and allow for implementation of
targeted preventive strategies. Fortunately, recent innovations in wearable
monitoring devices and big data analyses allow for long-term data collection
and analysis to occur. A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine
tracked the health of more than 100 people at risk for diabetes for up to eight
years. Participants underwent extensive testing each quarter, including
clinical laboratory testing, exercise and physiological testing, microbial and
molecular assessments, genetic sequencing, cardiovascular imaging and wearable
sensor monitoring using smart watches or glucose monitors. The researchers discovered over 67 major
clinically-actionable health issues – ranging from metabolic disorders, cardiovascular
disease, cancer, blood disorders and infectious diseases largely because the
scientists observed changes from baseline measures. The researchers reported they were able to
catch a lot of things before patients were symptomatic and this detection
allowed for patients to either be followed more carefully or to receive a
medical intervention. These results lend support to the idea of shifting the
practice of medicine from treating people when they are ill to a focus on
keeping people healthy by predicting disease risk and catching disease before
it is symptomatic
