In 2019, Nevada ranked 35th in population health in the United States. This is in part due to high rates of cardiovascular disease, chronic health conditions and premature death. A number of factors influence people’s health in a given geographic area, one of which includes a person’s genes, which can show a person’s likelihood of developing certain diseases.

With this in mind, in 2016 a team of local scientists came together to launch The Healthy Nevada Project, a genetic screening program that targets three diseases that can be treated, prevented, or delayed.

1. Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer;
2. Familial Hypercholesterolemia, which is different from your standard high cholesterol, in that your body is unable to clear the bad cholesterol from the blood;
3. And Lynch Syndrome, the most common cause for hereditary colon and endometrial cancers.

These three diseases are considered a top priority by the Centers for Disease Control. Watch the video to learn more about how researchers and clinicians are studying not just the genetic influences on these diseases– but our environment, too.