Iain R. Konigsberg, PhD, a research instructor of biomedical informatics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, tells SELF that if you have a high polygenic risk score for a disease, then it’s extra-important for you to lean into lifestyle choices that support your well-being and address the risk factors associated with that condition. Some research shows that when people know their polygenic risk, particularly when they have a high score for a specific condition, it motivates them to make daily choices that prioritize their physical and mental health (like not smoking, having regular checkups and screenings, eating heart-healthy foods, and exercising).