Genetic Signals Track Income–Health Gap

A genome‑wide association study of ~668,000 European‑ancestry participants finds 162 loci associated with an income factor and builds a polygenic index that explains about 1–5% of income variance. The authors use that genetic signal to probe how socio‑economic status and health outcomes correlate, suggesting part of the health gradient aligns with inherited variation mediated through education, health and selection processes. — If replicable and communicated carefully, linking polygenic indices for income to health disparities will reshape policy debates about the causes of inequality, appropriate interventions, and the ethics of using genetic data in social policy.