Healthcare has historically relied on genetics to explain why some people develop disease while others do not. Genetics refers to the fixed DNA code inherited at birth that provides the foundation for traits and predispositions, such as eye and hair color. But genetics alone only explains a fraction of health outcomes.
This is especially true for cardiovascular disease, where genetics accounts for less than 20% of risk. The rest is influenced by factors that go beyond inherited DNA. Understanding these factors requires looking deeper, into epigenetics, the dynamic layer of molecular modifications that accumulate and change over time. Epigenetics creates a measurable record of how lifestyle and environment interact with our genes to leave clues related to your health.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, yet most of the risk is driven by lifestyle and environmental factors. These exposures leave measurable epigenetic signatures in blood, most often through DNA methylation. For example, two individuals may both inherit genes linked to coronary heart disease. One who maintains healthier habits may show protective epigenetic patterns, while another exposed to smoking, or chronic stress may develop harmful changes that indicate early disease activity, potentially before cholesterol or imaging tests could detect it.
These epigenetic signatures regulate pathways linked to cardiovascular health, including inflammation, vascular repair, and cholesterol metabolism. By analyzing them, epigenetics provides a molecular readout of the processes driving heart disease, potentially before symptoms may appear. Traditional risk assessments, such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and family history, offer important information but can only approximate risk. They do not account for the biological impact of life exposures. Similarly, plaque build up alone may not tell the full story or provide actionable insights into factors driving disease. DNA methylation biomarkers linked to cardiovascular disease provide data on the cumulative influence of behavior and environmental factors. This information can be used to understand disease risk, progression, and how these factors can be modified over time.
Factors that can influence DNA methylation changes and affect the development of cardiovascular disease include:
We have integrated epigenetics, genetics, and AI technology for the prevention and detection of cardiovascular disease. Backed by rigorous science and evidence, we have developed two clinical blood tests that turn the science of epigenetics into actionable solutions:
Three-year Coronary Heart Disease Event Risk Assessment
Coronary Heart Disease Detection and Management
