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What is a polygenic risk score?
Most common diseases aren’t caused by a single faulty gene - they’re shaped by thousands of tiny genetic differences, each nudging your risk up or down. A polygenic risk score adds all of those small effects together into one number: an estimate of how your inherited risk for a condition compares with the rest of the population.
Unlike carrier screening or hereditary-cancer panels that look for rare mutations, a PRS captures the common genetic background that everyone carries - the part conventional gene tests miss.
Important: a PRS estimates inherited risk only. It is not a diagnosis, not a prediction that you will or won’t develop a condition, and not a replacement for the NHS screening you’re entitled to.
For a step-by-step look at the science - from genome-wide studies to your personalised result - read our guide to how polygenic risk scores work.
21 conditions covered
Cancers: breast (women), ovarian (women), prostate (men), pancreatic, colorectal (bowel), melanoma.
Heart & circulation: coronary artery disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation, hypertension.
Cholesterol & lipids: polygenic high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low HDL, raised lipoprotein(a).
Metabolic: type 2 diabetes, body mass index (obesity risk).
Brain & nerves: Alzheimer’s disease (APOE-influenced).
Immune, digestive, bone & hormonal: inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, osteoporosis, early menopause (women).
How it works
- Talk to a clinician - a free 30-minute consultation with a genetic counsellor confirms the test is right for you.
- Consent & collect - complete your online consent, receive your kit and give a simple saliva sample at home. No blood, no clinic, no fasting.
- Results & follow-up - your results are reviewed by a genetic counsellor and explained in plain English, with onward referrals if anything needs follow-up.
Why Jeen
- Ancestry-specific scoring via Allelica - better calibrated across diverse backgrounds, not just European-ancestry data.
- A genetic counselling consultation is included, before and after.
- A simple at-home saliva kit - no blood, no clinic visit, no fasting.
- A plain-English, personalised report, with a counsellor follow-up and onward referrals if needed.
Disclaimer! The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider for advice on medical conditions or treatments. Sources used: NCBI, UK Kindney Association, NHS.
