Individualized medicine
Individualized Medicine
Individualized medicine, also known as personalized medicine or precision medicine, is a medical model that separates individuals into different groups—with medical decisions, practices, interventions and/or products being tailored to the individual patient based on their predicted response or risk of disease.
Pronunciation
In-duh-vij-oo-uh-lahyzd med-uh-sin
Etymology
The term "individualized medicine" is derived from the English words "individual" and "medicine". "Individual" comes from the Latin word "individualis", meaning "indivisible", and "medicine" comes from the Latin word "medicina", meaning "the healing art".
Related Terms
- Genomics: The study of the entire genetic make-up of organisms.
- Pharmacogenomics: The study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs.
- Genetic Testing: The sequencing of human DNA in order to discover genetic differences, anomalies, or mutations that might be responsible for a particular disease.
- Biotechnology: The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products.
- Bioinformatics: An interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data.
Overview
Individualized medicine is a growing field of study in the world of healthcare. It involves tailoring medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient. It does not literally mean the creation of drugs or medical devices that are unique to a patient, but rather the ability to classify individuals into subpopulations that differ in their susceptibility to a particular disease, in the biology or prognosis of those diseases they may develop, or in their response to a specific treatment. Preventive or therapeutic interventions can then be concentrated on those who will benefit, sparing expense and side effects for those who will not.
History
The concept of individualized medicine has been around for several decades, but it has only recently become a practical reality thanks to advances in genetic testing and biotechnology. The Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, was a major milestone in this journey, providing scientists with a detailed map of all human genes.
Future
The future of individualized medicine is promising. With the continued advancement of technology and our understanding of the human genome, it is likely that individualized medicine will become increasingly prevalent in the coming years. This could lead to more effective treatments, fewer side effects, and overall better patient outcomes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Individualized medicine
- Wikipedia's article - Individualized medicine
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