Helsinki, Finland – A new study from the University of Helsinki in Finland has uncovered a surprising correlation between socio-economic status and genetic risk for various diseases. Privileged individuals with elevated SES are found to have a heightened genetic risk for breast, prostate, and other types of cancer according to the research findings. Conversely, those less affluent are genetically more susceptible to diabetes, arthritis, depression, alcoholism, and lung cancer, experts have revealed.
Dr. Fiona Hagenbeek, the leader of the study conducted at the university’s Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), emphasized the potential implications of the initial results. The study, which analyzed data on about 280,000 Finns aged 35 to 80, signals a potential shift towards incorporating polygenic risk scores into disease screening protocols to measure genetic risk.
The groundbreaking research not only sheds light on the genetic connection to disease risk but also highlights the importance of considering an individual’s socio-economic background in disease prediction. Dr. Hagenbeek stressed the need for more studies in diverse populations to confirm these findings and better understand how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence disease risk.
The study’s findings will be presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics in Berlin, Germany. Conference Chair Professor Alexandre Reymond of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, commended the Finnish colleagues for their pioneering efforts in advancing personalized health initiatives. Further research is needed to explore how genetic information can be effectively integrated into healthcare to support personalized medicine and enhance disease prediction strategies.