Understanding Polygenic Risk Scores

Learn how genetic risk scores work and what they mean for your health

What is a Polygenic Risk Score?

A Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) combines the effects of many genetic variants to estimate your overall genetic predisposition to a particular health condition. Unlike single-gene conditions, most common diseases are influenced by thousands of genetic variants, each with a small effect.

How Accurate Are These Results?

PRS provides a statistical estimate of genetic risk, not a diagnosis. Your actual risk depends on many factors including lifestyle, environment, and family history. A high PRS means higher genetic predisposition, but many people with high scores never develop the condition.

Ancestry Considerations

Most genetic research has been conducted in European populations. This means PRS may be less accurate for individuals of non-European ancestry. We clearly indicate when a PRS has been validated across multiple ancestries.

What Should I Do With These Results?

Discuss your results with a healthcare provider or genetic counselor. They can help you understand what these results mean for you personally and develop a personalized prevention or screening plan.

Understanding Risk Categories

Category Percentile What It Means
Low Risk 0-20th Your genetic predisposition is lower than 80% of the population
Average Risk 20-80th Your genetic predisposition is similar to the general population
Elevated Risk 80-95th Your genetic predisposition is higher than most of the population
High Risk 95-100th Your genetic predisposition is among the highest in the population

Key Points to Remember

  • PRS is not a diagnosis. It estimates genetic predisposition, not whether you will develop a condition.
  • Many factors influence disease. Lifestyle, environment, and other genetic factors all play a role.
  • High risk doesn't mean certainty. Many people with high PRS never develop the condition.
  • Low risk doesn't mean immunity. People with low PRS can still develop conditions due to other factors.
  • Take action on modifiable factors. Focus on what you can control: diet, exercise, screening, and medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! We encourage you to discuss your results with your healthcare provider. They can help interpret the results in the context of your overall health and family history, and recommend appropriate screening or preventive measures.

We only report PRS results that meet strict scientific criteria, including validation across multiple studies and clinical actionability. Additionally, we typically only highlight results above the 80th percentile to avoid unnecessary concern about average-risk findings.

Your genetic sequence doesn't change, but PRS calculations may be updated as scientific research advances and more genetic variants are discovered. We periodically recalculate scores using the latest validated methods.

Yes. In the United States, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) protects you from discrimination by health insurers and employers based on genetic information. However, GINA does not apply to life, disability, or long-term care insurance.

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