Admixture-informed polygenic risk reporting using the ePRS framework

Y Yu-Jyun Huang N Nuzulul Kurniansyah M Matthew O. Goodman B Brian W. Spitzer J Jiongming Wang (Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.) A Adrienne Stilp C Cecelia Laurie (University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) H Han Chen (GBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry) Y Yuan-I Min M Mario Sims G Gina M. Peloso X Xiuqing Guo J Joshua C. Bis J Jennifer A. Brody L Laura M. Raffield (Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.) J Jennifer A. Smith W Wei Zhao J Jerome I. Rotter S Stephen S. Rich (Department of Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.) S Susan Redline M Myriam Fornage R Robert Kaplan N Nora Franceschini (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.) D Daniel Levy (Population Sciences Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.) A Alanna C. Morrison E Eric Boerwinkle N Nicholas L. Smith C Charles Kooperberg (Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.) B Bruce M. Psaty S Sebastian Zöllner (Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.) P Paul S. de Vries T Tamar Sofer

Abstract

Abstract Polygenic risk score values vary with genetic ancestry due to differences in population-specific allele frequencies and linkage disequilibrium patterns. We present a framework to calibrate polygenic risk scores based on ancestral makeup. We propose the “expected polygenic risk score” or ePRS, defined as the expected value of a polygenic risk score based on one’s global or local admixture patterns. We further define the “residual polygenic risk score” or rPRS as measuring the deviation of the polygenic risk score from the ePRS. The ePRS reflects the baseline ancestry-driven component of genetic risk, whereas the rPRS isolates an ancestry-agnostic measure of genetic liability. Simulation studies confirm that it suffices to adjust for ePRS to obtain nearly unbiased estimates of the polygenic risk score-outcome association without further adjusting for principal components. Using the TOPMed and the All of Us datasets, effect size estimates for the rPRS (adjusted for ePRS) are similar to those obtained from polygenic risk scores adjusting for genetic principal components. The ePRS framework can protect from population stratification in association analysis and provide an equitable strategy to interpret genetic risk across diverse populations.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published April 30, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (32)

Y

Yu-Jyun Huang

N

Nuzulul Kurniansyah

M

Matthew O. Goodman

B

Brian W. Spitzer

J

Jiongming Wang

Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

A

Adrienne Stilp

C

Cecelia Laurie

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

H

Han Chen

GBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry

Y

Yuan-I Min

M

Mario Sims

G

Gina M. Peloso

X

Xiuqing Guo

J

Joshua C. Bis

J

Jennifer A. Brody

L

Laura M. Raffield

Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

J

Jennifer A. Smith

W

Wei Zhao

J

Jerome I. Rotter

S

Stephen S. Rich

Department of Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

S

Susan Redline

M

Myriam Fornage

R

Robert Kaplan

N

Nora Franceschini

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

D

Daniel Levy

Population Sciences Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

A

Alanna C. Morrison

E

Eric Boerwinkle

N

Nicholas L. Smith

C

Charles Kooperberg

Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.

B

Bruce M. Psaty

S

Sebastian Zöllner

Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

P

Paul S. de Vries

T

Tamar Sofer