What is a Polygenic Risk Score?

A Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) is a number that describes how your genetic variants influence a particular trait, condition, or disease. In other words, it tells you whether your DNA makes a specific trait or health condition more or less likely for you.

Why "polygenic"?

Most traits and diseases are influenced by many genes acting together. Here's what the term means:

  • "Poly-" means many.
  • "-genic" means genes.

A PRS combines the effects of all these genes into one overall score.

How to think about PRS

Traits influenced by many genes usually follow a bell-shaped curve:

  • Most people fall near the average.
  • Extreme values (very high or very low) are rare.

For example, consider height:

  • People aren't just "tall" or "short."
  • Heights can range from below 4 feet to over 7 feet!

A PRS works similarly, showing your relative position compared to others.

Don't forget lifestyle

Your environment and lifestyle also affect most traits. Even if your PRS points to higher risk, healthy choices and habits can make a big difference.

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