Improving the Prediction of Type 1 Diabetes Across Ancestries

Prediction of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is essential for disease prevention and early interventional therapies. Genetic risk score (GRS) models developed to predict T1D have largely been determined using Eurocentric populations and applied to all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, or ancestry (1). Recent T1D incidence data suggest significant increases of new cases in Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander populations, emphasizing the need for personalized assessment strategies (2). Here, we demonstrate that a frequently used GRS model fails to recognize T1D in individuals of African descent (AFR); however, these same individuals can be identified using an AFR-derived model. We further illustrate the feasibility of determining genetic ancestry and show that it conflicts with self-reported ethnicity.
Source: Diabetes Care - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research