Two-thirds (66 per cent) of people would want to know whether they had a risk of developing a serious illness if genetic testing were available on the NHS, according to a survey for the Astellas Innovation Debate.

Fifty-six per cent of 2,192 respondents said they would want to know whether they had a higher than average risk of cancer. Half would want to know that they had an increased risk of heart disease (the same proportion as for Alzheimer’s), 40 per cent would want to know the risk of Parkinson’s disease and 31 per cent the risk of mental illness. Ten per cent said they would want genetic testing to identify how fast their skin will age, and 9 per cent their risk of losing their hair.

However 40 per cent said that fear of being left anxious or depressed would put them off genetic testing. Other concerns included finding out something unpleasant about a disease they might contract (38 per cent), difficulties getting life insurance or a mortgage (30 per cent) and discrimination at work (26 per cent).

On the other hand, 12 per cent said the chance to get life insurance or a mortgage cheaper would motivate them to get a genetic test. Thirty-six per cent of 301 GPs agreed that genetic testing might make people take better care of their health – 51 per cent of patients said they would be likely to make lifestyle changes after the test. Nevertheless, only 35 per cent of GPs wanted wider genetic testing on the NHS.