Genetics

This blog post examines a study evaluating whether polygenic risk scores developed from European-ancestry genetic studies can accurately predict multiple sclerosis risk in individuals of South Asian ancestry. The article highlights that although these scores retain some predictive value, their performance is substantially weaker in South Asian populations than in European-ancestry cohorts. By comparing data from Genes & Health and UK Biobank, the study underscores a central challenge in genomic medicine: prediction tools built from ancestry-limited datasets may not transfer equitably across populations. The findings emphasize the need for more diverse genome-wide association studies to ensure that future genetic risk prediction is scientifically reliable and clinically fair.