#465: Personalizing GLP-1 Medications: The Role of Genetics in Weight Loss and Side Effects With Noura Abul-Husn M.D. Ph.D
Episode Description
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Today, I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Nora Abdul-Hussein, a physician-scientist, medical geneticist, and one of the leading voices in the field of genomic medicine. In this episode, Dr. Abdul-Hussein and I dig into a huge question—why do two people taking the exact same GLP-1 medication have such wildly different results, from weight loss to side effect profiles? She shares her unique path from internal medicine to cutting-edge population genomics, and how her work at 23andMe is beginning to answer some of medicine’s toughest puzzles.
Episode Timestamps:
Introduction: podcast focus on genetics, peptides, and longevity ... 00:00:00
Dr. Nora Abdul-Hussein’s background and journey in genomic medicine ... 00:07:01
Prevention and population-scale genetics ... 00:08:06
Power of genetic insights for personal lifestyle choices ... 00:14:40
Barriers to adopting genetics in clinical practice ... 00:16:41
Pharmacogenomics and the move toward personalized prescribing ... 00:17:21
Launching a large-scale study on GLP-1 genetics ... 00:19:41
Discovery: GLP-1 receptor gene variants linked to weight loss and nausea ... 00:22:40
Risk calculators and personalized expectations for GLP-1s ... 00:27:26
Broader genomics: diet, exercise, and response variability ... 00:28:24
Avoiding genetic determinism and emphasizing holistic care ... 00:29:29
Findings for tirzepatide and the GIP receptor ... 00:34:20
Population differences and ancestry’s impact on results ... 00:38:07
Is genetic information ready for prime time in GLP-1 therapy? ... 00:41:12
Clinical implications beyond “calories in, calories out” ... 00:43:01
GLP-1s: potential for non-weight related conditions ... 00:44:48
Personalized medicine: integrating genomics with other data ... 00:51:02
Reducing shame and embracing genes as tools for prevention ... 01:00:02
Genomic information as an empowering health strategy ... 01:01:30
Study insights and validation: self-reporting and sample diversity ... 01:05:40
Protecting privacy and building trust in genomics ... 01:13:32
Final thoughts: embrace your genes and use the data for healthspan ... 01:20:10
Where to learn more and wrap-up ... 01:21:18
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