Polygenic risk scores face scrutiny in clinical and neurological research

Recent research highlights the evolving role and challenges of polygenic risk scores (PRS) in clinical settings. A study involving child and adolescent psychiatrists investigated clinician attitudes toward using PRS to calculate genetic risks for multi-gene disorders. While psychiatrists saw potential utility for clinical surveillance and treatment, they expressed concerns regarding the potential for misinterpretation or misuse by patients, families, and clinicians. Experts emphasized the need for further research to prove positive patient outcomes, alongside better testing infrastructure and clinical guidelines.

In a separate study involving the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program, researchers examined the association between genetic scores related to insulin resistance and neurological outcomes. Analyzing data from over 17,000 participants from diverse ancestral backgrounds, the study derived cross-population and population-specific polygenic scores for fasting insulin and insulin resistance to better understand the biological mechanisms linking these factors to dementia.