A recent study conducted at the University of Helsinki in Finland reveals that wealthy individuals are genetically at a higher risk for certain cancers compared to their poorer counterparts. The research found that people with higher socio-economic status (SES) face greater genetic risks for breast, prostate, and other types of cancer.
Conversely, those with lower SES are genetically more susceptible to diabetes, arthritis, depression, alcoholism, and lung cancer. The study, which is the first to examine the link between SES and a wide range of diseases in affluent countries, collected data from 280,000 Finnish citizens aged 35 to 80.
Dr. Fiona Hagenbeek, the study leader from the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), stated that these findings could lead to changes in disease screening protocols. For instance, women with high genetic risks and higher education levels might receive earlier and more frequent breast cancer screenings compared to those with lower genetic risks and less education.
Understanding that the impact of polygenic scores on disease risk is context-dependent may lead to further stratified screening protocols. For example, in the future, screening protocols for breast cancer may be adapted so that females with a high genetic risk and who are highly educated receive earlier or more frequent screening than females with lower genetic risk or less education. Acknowledging that such context also matters when incorporating genetic information into healthcare is an important first step.Dr. Fiona Hagenbeek, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki
Dr. Hagenbeek emphasized the importance of context when considering the impact of polygenic scores on disease risk. She noted that disease risk prediction models usually include demographic factors like biological sex and age, which recognize that disease incidence varies by these factors. Now, the study shows that an individual’s socio-economic background also affects genetic predictions of disease risk.
While genetic information remains constant throughout one's life, its impact on disease risk can change with age and circumstances. This highlights the need for further research to understand how specific professions and socio-economic conditions affect disease risk. The study also made clear how important it is to carry out comparable studies in low-income nations to determine whether these conclusions apply to people of various roots and socioeconomic backgrounds.
To really move to personalized health it will be essential to gauge both genetic and environmental risks. We should commend our Finnish colleagues for their part in spearheading this effort.Professor Alexandre Reymond, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
The research was presented at the European Society of Human Genetics' annual conference in Berlin, Germany. Professor Alexandre Reymond of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, who led the conference, praised the Finnish team's efforts. He stressed that combining genetic and environmental risk assessments is essential for advancing personalized healthcare.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)