Rich people have a higher genetic risk of cancer than the poor, according to a new study conducted by the University of Helsinki, which examined the relationship between socioeconomic status and a number of diseases, according to the New York Post.
The rich, in danger of getting cancer PHOTO Shutterstock
The privileged with a higher socio-economic status have a higher genetic risk of suffering from breast, prostate, or other types of cancer, the new study shows.
At the opposite pole, those with a poorer material situation are more prone to diabetes and arthritis, but also to depression, alcoholism and lung cancer, say scientists.
Dr Fiona Hagenbeek of the University of Finland’s Institute of Molecular Medicine, who led the study, said the initial results could lead to the addition of polygenic risk scores, used to measure disease risk based on genetics, to screening protocols for some diseases.
“If we understand that the impact of polygenic scores on disease risk is context-dependent, this may lead to the addition of screening protocols”said Dr. Hagenbeek.
“For example, in the future, breast cancer screening protocols could be tailored so that women with higher genetic risk and who have advanced education receive screening earlier or more frequently than those with lower genetic risk, or less educated”added the expert.
The study was conducted by comparing genomic data, socio-economic levels and medical records from approximately 280,000 Finns between the ages of 35 and 80.
Previously, similar studies also showed that there was a difference in risk. What’s different this time, however, is that the new study was touted as the first to specifically look for the link in 19 high-income diseases.
“Most clinical risk prediction models include basic demographic information, such as biological sex and age, which show that the incidence of a disease differs between men and women, or by age (…) We can now show that risk prediction genetic predisposition to the disease also depends on the socio-economic status of the individual”explained Hagenbeek.
The researchers say further work can be done to fully understand the links between certain occupations and disease susceptibility. They also say that such studies should also be conducted in lower-income countries.