The MyGeneRank app will calculate the risk of genetic predisposition to heart disease

In California, the results of the first study to determine the risk of cardiovascular diseases using a smartphone application have been summed up. The study showed that the concept works, but it revealed one natural disadvantage.

The MyGeneRank application was developed by specialists from the Scripps Research Institute together with colleagues from the 23andMe genetic project. This is a private biolab in Mountain View, which analyzes the DNA of clients to identify predispositions to various diseases. The application uses survey data and information from the laboratory to calculate the risk of heart disease in a particular person. As a result, it also gives recommendations on lifestyle changes.

As the study showed, after learning about the high risk of the disease, people were twice as likely to take preventive medications, were puzzled by lowering cholesterol levels and losing weight. And this is already progress, because according to statistics, out of 20 million Americans at risk, only 30% are trying to take care of their health. However, along the way it turned out that those who received a low risk assessment did not significantly change anything in their lives. And this depresses the authors of the project, because the risks depend not only on genetic predisposition, but also on many other factors that, unlike genetics, people can change.