How genetic testing is redefining men’s health in India

Consult a clinician or genetic counselor to understand which tests suit you based on your clinical and family history.

Published Nov 20, 2025 | 5:52 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 20, 2025 | 5:52 PM

Representational image. Credit: iStock

Synopsis: Genetic risks drive many top diseases in Indian men, including early heart attacks, diabetes, prostate/colorectal cancers, neurological disorders, and infertility. Advanced testing now enables early detection, personalised treatment, and prevention. This International Men’s Day, experts urge men to move beyond lifestyle fixes and embrace genetic insights for proactive, lifelong health.

Men’s health has, for a long time, been discussed in the light of lifestyle risk factors in India: smoking, poor diet, stress, and a lack of preventive check-ups. While these remain critical, evidence shows that our genetics play an equally important role in determining our long-term health outcomes.

Today, advances in genetic testing are helping men understand these risks earlier, enabling more accurate diagnosis, personalised treatment, and preventive care that goes much beyond routine health checks. It offers insights into why diseases occur, how they progress, and what medical interventions may work best for a person. Here are the top 5 diseases affecting Indian men — and the genetic insights behind them.

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD): Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Indian men. Its onset is a decade earlier in this population compared to their Western counterparts. Genetic predisposition also plays a significant role, even though lifestyle factors are well-known risk factors. Men may be at risk for an early-onset myocardial infarction due to differences in genes linked to coagulation, inflammation, and lipid metabolism. Genetic tests such as polygenic risk scores for coronary artery disease, familial hypercholesterolemia panels, and pharmacogenomic markers for antiplatelet drug response are assisting clinicians in identifying high-risk individuals before the onset of symptoms. Early intervention with insight into genetics proves far more effective than the treatment of heart disease once it has developed.
Diabetes and metabolic disorders: India is often referred to as the “diabetes capital,” and men form a sizable proportion of this diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes has a strong hereditary component. Variants that affect insulin resistance, pancreatic function, and obesity risk can greatly increase vulnerability to the disease. Genetic testing can help in distinguishing monogenic diabetes, such as MODY, from type 2 diabetes, which is an important distinction to guide treatment and personalise therapy.
Male cancers: The high occurrence of cancers such as prostate, colorectal, and lung in men in India calls for early detection. Some germline mutations, such as BRCA1/2, HOXB13, and mismatch repair genes, considerably predispose an individual to cancer. Targeted genetic testing for inherited predisposition can be provided to men in families where there are early-onset cancers. It is important to recognise that such testing, based on family and clinical history, is not indicated universally. Tumor genomic testing in patients pinpoints actionable mutations that can dictate appropriate precision treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
Neurological and neurodegenerative disorders: Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, early-onset dementia, and certain muscular dystrophies have strong genetic underpinnings. Although many are not hereditary, some genetic mutations can lead to a high level of risk. Early genetic testing will allow patients to learn whether they are at risk of the condition, allow them to make more informed decisions regarding preventative lifestyle changes, and give them time to prepare to take advantage of new therapeutic opportunities as they become available.
Issues concerning reproductive health: Genetics can impact a man’s ability to conceive, hormonal activity, and disease risk. A man may have genetic abnormalities resulting in disease. They can also be carriers and pass on a health condition unintentionally to their offspring. Family history, genetic testing, and genetic counseling can help identify conditions affecting reproduction. Knowledge allows for different decisions about reproduction for different individuals.

Genetic testing has the potential to change healthcare from reactive to proactive. Especially for men who avoid routine check-ups until symptoms strike, it enables early detection of diseases, more precise treatment, and consequently, much better long-term health outcomes.

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This International Men’s Day, take charge of your genetic health, not just to prevent illness, but to empower yourself for protecting your family’s future, and embrace a more informed, proactive approach to lifelong wellbeing. Consult a clinician or genetic counselor to understand which tests suit you based on your clinical and family history.

(Dr. Venkataswamy Eswarachari, Associate Vice President and Senior Director, Lab Operations, MedGenome. Views are personal)