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Precision Public Health Applications of Polygenic Risk Scores for Alzheimer’s disease: Evidence, Equity, and Implementation Challenges
Author: Bamuraza Nfukwe W.
Publisher: RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PHARMACY
Published: 2026
Section: Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry
Abstract
Advances in genomic medicine have enabled the emergence of precision public health, with polygenic risk scores
(PRS) offering novel tools for population-level risk stratification and intervention. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the
most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder globally, exhibits a polygenic architecture that can be quantified
through PRS derived from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). PRS for AD facilitates the prediction of
disease onset, cognitive decline, and identification of high-risk individuals, potentially informing early detection,
prevention strategies, and resource allocation in public health. However, challenges persist, including limited
validation across diverse populations, potential exacerbation of health inequities, data infrastructure and privacy
concerns, integration into existing public health frameworks, and workforce capacity for implementation. Evidence
highlights the need for population-specific PRS development, robust longitudinal studies, and equitable
governance frameworks to maximize public health benefit while mitigating ethical, social, and economic risks.
Strategic application of PRS in AD may enhance preventive interventions, optimize resource allocation, and
support informed policymaking in precision public health.