Precision Medicine: Personalizing Healthcare by Bridging Aging, Genetics, and Global Diversity

Area of Science:

• Genomics and Bioinformatics
• Translational Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Precision medicine tailors healthcare to individual variability, showing promise in various diseases.
• Current approaches face limitations due to underrepresentation of diverse populations in genetic research.
• Existing clinical guidelines often do not account for age-related biological changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a broader framework for precision medicine that integrates aging and genetic diversity.
• To address limitations in current precision medicine models, particularly regarding health equity.
• To highlight the role of emerging technologies in advancing inclusive precision medicine.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual model development integrating individual variability with population-level factors (aging, genetic diversity).
• Review of existing challenges in precision medicine, including data representation and clinical guidelines.
• Exploration of enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and multi-omics.

Main Results:

• Identified underrepresentation of diverse populations as a key barrier to equitable precision medicine.
• Highlighted the need for age-specific clinical guidelines to prevent misdiagnosis in older adults.
• Proposed an expanded model incorporating aging and genetic diversity for a global approach.

Conclusions:

• Precision medicine must actively include underrepresented populations and develop age-specific guidelines.
• Addressing socioeconomic barriers is crucial for the successful implementation of inclusive precision medicine.
• Integrating aging and genetics can transform precision medicine into a globally equitable approach, improving outcomes for all.