New research shows that wealthy people have a genetically higher risk of cancer than those with less financial means.
Publika.az reports that the relationship between socio-economic status and diseases was investigated in a study conducted at the University of Helsinki in Finland.
Research has shown that wealthy people are at a higher genetic risk for breast, prostate and other cancers.
In contrast, less well-off people are genetically more susceptible to diabetes and arthritis, as well as depression, alcoholism and lung cancer, experts say.
The head of research from the University’s Finnish Institute of Molecular Medicine (FIMM) Dr. Fiona Hagenbyk’s team collected data on the genomic, socioeconomic status and health of approximately 280,000 Finns between the ages of 35 and 80.
Previous studies have shown some differences similar to what the researchers found this time. However, this is the first study to examine the relationship between 19 common diseases in high-income countries.
“Most clinical risk prediction models include basic demographic information such as biological sex and age. Recognizing that such context is also important in incorporating genetic information into health care is an important step. We can now show that genetic prediction of disease risk also depends on an individual’s socioeconomic background. That is, although our genetic information does not change throughout our lives, the effect of genetics on disease risk changes as we age or as our life circumstances change,” said Fiona Hagenbik.
In this context, the researchers said that research should be conducted in low-income countries as well.
The results of the study were presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics in Berlin, Germany.
(Medicina.az)
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