Knowing Genetic Makeup May Not Significantly Improve Disease Risk Prediction

[Northerner]

Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers have found that detailed knowledge about your genetic makeup -- the interplay between genetic variants and other genetic variants, or between genetic variants and environmental risk factors -- may only change your estimated disease prediction risk for three common diseases by a few percentage points, which is typically not enough to make a difference in prevention or treatment plans. It is the first study to revisit claims in previous research that including such information in risk models would eventually help doctors either prevent or treat diseases.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524123207.htm