A new national survey shows a keen interest in DNA testing primarily driven by people’s desire to know more about their potential health risks.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-300x248.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26142" width="300" height="248" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-300x248.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-768x634.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-1024x845.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-880x726.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery-1180x974.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DNA-Discovery.png 1270w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The survey, conducted by 23andMe in the lead up to<a href="https://www.genome.gov/26525485/about-dna-day/"> DNA Day</a>, asked consumers a range of questions to gauge both their understanding and interest in genetic testing.* Just as in all the surveys the company has done since 2013, a majority of consumers said they were interested in testing.
But this year saw a slight increase over last year in the percentage of respondents who said they were either extremely or somewhat interested in using DNA testing to find out about their health. The survey found that 74 percent were interested in testing to learn about health risks, which is a 3 percent increase over last year.
<h6>Potential Health Risks</h6>
Most striking of all is that learning about health risks drives the most interest in DNA testing. The survey found that two-thirds of respondents ranked health information as their top consideration for testing. Interestingly, the same percentage of those surveyed ranked their interest in ancestry information as those who said a desire to <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/participating-in-23andme-research-a-customers-perspective/">contribute to genetic research</a> was a primary driver for their interest in testing.
“It’s encouraging to see consumers value the core of 23andMe’s mission,” said Jhulianna Cintron, 23andMe’s consumer genetics trends expert. “We want everyone to benefit from the science around the human genome, and that’s why health, ancestry and research have always been at the core of what we do.”
<div id="attachment_27027" style="width: 708px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27027" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/DNA-Day-Survey.png" alt="" class="wp-image-27027 size-full" width="698" height="352" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/DNA-Day-Survey.png 698w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/DNA-Day-Survey-300x151.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 698px) 100vw, 698px" />Learning about potential health risk was the primary driver in their interest in DNA testing, according to a new survey by 23andMe.</div>
23andMe began conducting annual surveys measuring consumers’ interest in DNA testing in 2013. At that time, estimates were that fewer than half a million people had done an at-home DNA test. Since then interest in genetic testing has soared. One estimate suggests that more than<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612880/more-than-26-million-people-have-taken-an-at-home-ancestry-test/"> 26 million people</a> have taken an at-home DNA test. That surge in interest has come with references to testing<a href="https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/jon-snow-emails-23andme-about-his-dna-results"> sprinkled in popular culture</a>, and daily news coverage. 
<h6>Genetic Literacy</h6>
But people’s deep interest in genetic testing is often out ahead of their understanding of the science. The survey shows there is room for improvement in basic genetic literacy, which mirrors other national surveys that show a general need for<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2019/03/28/what-americans-know-about-science/"> science literacy</a>.
23andMe’s 2019 survey found that fewer than half of those asked, 41 percent, knew that DNA is organized into chromosomes, for example. While most of those surveyed, 57 percent, understood that genetic research can help lead to new treatments for disease, only 39 percent knew that genetics can play a role in a person’s risk for<a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/"> Parkinson’s disease</a>. More than 70 percent of those asked were unaware that a person’s genetics can impact how likely it is for them to have a stronger or weaker reaction to<a href="https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm624753.htm"> different medications</a>.
While the survey found gaps in genetic literacy, it also showed a continued interest in leveraging genetic information to learn more about their own health. A majority of those surveyed, 62 percent, also said that information could help them make lifestyle changes to improve their health. And 66 percent said they would be interested in learning about genetic variants that they could pass on to their children that could increase the risk for certain diseases.
&nbsp;
All in all the survey indicates that people’s interest in DNA testing remains strong, and it is not driven by just one thing, but a desire to learn not only about potential health risks, or their ancestral heritage, but also a willingness to contribute to important research that might help others. And no matter their motivation, the vast majority of Americans, 85 percent, said that they have a right to access their genetic information with an at-home genetic test directly.
*23andMe DNA Survey, conducted in April 2019. The online survey included 1,500 nationally representative Americans who were 18 years old or older. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

People Want to Know About Potential Health Risks

Recorded in front of a live audience at this year’s<a href="https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/events/PP102121"> SXSW conference</a> in Austin, the latest<a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-spit-29676456/"> episode of Spit</a>, an iHeartRadio podcast with 23andMe tackles one of our most significant public health challenges of our day — preventing millions of Americans from developing <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/type-2-diabetes/">type 2 diabetes</a>.
Hosted by writer, comedian and cultural critic,<a href="http://baratunde.com/"> Baratunde Thurston</a>, this episode kicks off the second season of<a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-spit-29676456/"> Spit</a>, iHeartRadio’s podcast with 23andMe. Baratunde brought together an eclectic panel that included not just Tracey D. Brown, the CEO of the American Diabetes Associations (ADA), but also country music star<a href="https://timmcgraw.com/"> Tim McGraw</a>, who has an inspiring personal health and fitness story. And rounding out the panel was<a href="https://www.lark.com/about"> Julia Hu</a>, the CEO of Lark Health, where scientists and engineers have created a new digital coaching app to help consumers meet their diet and exercise goals.
<div id="attachment_27024" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27024" class="size-large wp-image-27024" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4960-1024x746.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="746" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4960-1024x746.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4960-300x219.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4960-768x559.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4960-880x641.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4960-1180x859.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4960.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />From left Julia Hu, CEO of Lark Health, Tracey D. Brown, CEO of the American Diabetes Association, Tim McGraw, country singer and fitness advocate, and the Spit podcast host Baratunde Thurston at SXSW in Austin.</div>
The first step at prevention is merely raising awareness, said Brown, who took over as CEO of the American Diabetes Association in 2018 after serving as senior vice president of operations and chief experience officer at Sam’s Club.
&nbsp;
There are huge human and economic costs to diabetes, “yet the sense of urgency (in the public) isn’t there yet,” Brown said.
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_27021" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27021" class="wp-image-27021 size-medium" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4975-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4975-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4975-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4975-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4975-587x880.jpg 587w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4975-787x1180.jpg 787w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4975.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Tracey D. Brown, CEO of the American Diabetes Association</div>
Along with alerting people to this looming health crisis, people also must become aware of their own likelihood of developing diabetes. You have to “know your numbers,” Brown said. Adding that a simple glucose level blood test could alert the many people who are prediabetic, but don’t know it yet.
&nbsp;
Brown uses herself as an example of the perils of ignoring factors that might increase one’s likelihood of developing <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/type-2-diabetes/">type 2 diabetes</a>. She developed gestational diabetes while pregnant with her daughter, and it later moved on to diabetes.
&nbsp;
“I should have taken (it) seriously then, but I didn’t,” she said.
&nbsp;
What really motivated Brown to change was her daughter, who had once asked: “Mommy are you going to die of diabetes?”
&nbsp;
It’s what helped push Brown to make the lifestyle changes that have slowly weaned her off daily insulin injections. But it’s never easy, she said.
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<div id="attachment_27022" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27022" class="wp-image-27022 size-medium" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4952-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4952-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4952-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4952-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4952-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4952-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4952.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Baratunde and McGraw before the panel discussion.</div>
As in Brown’s case, it was one of Tim McGraw’s daughters who pushed him to get healthy. Watching a preview of a film he was in, his daughter reacted to seeing him looking overweight on screen.
&#8220;My oldest daughter said, &#8216;Geez, Dad. You really need to do something,'&#8221; he said. &#8220;And the next day, I was in the gym.&#8221;
&nbsp;
His daughter’s unfiltered comments brought home for him how his late nights, drinking and bad habits were impacting his health. He wanted to change that.
&nbsp;
“I wanted to be healthy,” McGraw said. “I wanted to stick around.”
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The son of a professional baseball player, and an athlete in his youth, McGraw got serious about fitness about ten years ago. His philosophy was to “just do something physical every day,” he said.
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McGraw is working on a book about his transformation to be called Grit &amp; Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life. He also recently launched<a href="https://trumavfitness.com/"> TruMav Fitness</a>, a health and fitness brand. And he noted that beyond helping yourself, taking steps to get healthy is likely going to motivate someone else.
&nbsp;
“If you do something positive I guarantee somebody else is following along, and doing something positive as well, whether you know it or not,” he said. “It can make an exponential change by setting an example like this.”
<div id="attachment_27020" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27020" class="wp-image-27020 size-medium" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4980-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4980-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4980-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4980-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4980-587x880.jpg 587w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4980-787x1180.jpg 787w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/THEANTMAN-SPITPODCAST-4980.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Julia Hu, CEO of Lark Health</div>
Finding the motivation to make that kind of change though is often the biggest challenge, said Julia Hu, the CEO of Lark. And that’s where the company’s<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/your-digital-health-coach-is-here/"> digital health coach</a> comes in. Earlier this year Lark teamed up with 23andMe to provide customers the opportunity to integrate their genetic results into their digital coaching programs to help offer personalized diet and exercise suggestions and spur people toward their health goals. Lark offers a CDC-recognized diabetes prevention program that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and the ubiquitous of smart phones to give users virtual coaching. That kind of consistent advice can go a long way in helping people achieve their goals, Hu said.
&nbsp;
“Losing just five percent of body weight can cut the (likelihood) of diabetes in half,” she said. “Small changes can make a big difference.”
&nbsp;
You can listen to the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/conversation-around-one-major-challenges-to-human-health/id1422827494?i=1000433580830&amp;mt=2">iTunes</a> or <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-spit-29676456/episode/a-conversation-around-one-of-the-30747322/">iHeartRadio</a>.
&nbsp;
To find out more about type 2 diabetes and diabetes prevention go to the<a href="https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/type-2"> American Diabetes Association</a>, or the<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html"> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.
&nbsp;

Spit Podcast Takes on Type 2 Diabetes

Today, 23andMe added a new report on TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis, a genetic, multi-system disease.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-26987 size-medium" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Smiling-Granddad-and-Grandson-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Smiling-Granddad-and-Grandson-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Smiling-Granddad-and-Grandson-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Smiling-Granddad-and-Grandson-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Smiling-Granddad-and-Grandson-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Smiling-Granddad-and-Grandson-1180x787.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h2>What is TTR-Related Amyloidosis?</h2>
This new <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry">Genetic Health Risk report</a> looks at three of the most common genetic variants associated with TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis. This little-known and underdiagnosed genetic condition is caused by the buildup of a protein called<a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/TTR"> transthyretin</a> (TTR) in the body’s tissues and organs. This protein buildup can damage the nerves, heart, and other body parts. Symptoms vary widely, but can include cardiomyopathy, peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy. Because symptoms of TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis can vary widely, it is often misdiagnosed.<a id="a1" href="#f1">[1]</a>  
23andMe’s new report gives customers an opportunity to learn about their potential risk for TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis so that they can take action by speaking to their doctor to learn more about their risk and discuss appropriate next steps, which may include diagnostic testing.
<h2>Alnylam Collaboration</h2>
Based on a shared commitment to disease awareness of TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals supported the publication of this report in part. Alnylam has worked with TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis patients for years and has a deep understanding of how the condition can impact individuals and their families. As such, the company’s scientific and medical teams provided input on information related to the condition, including its symptoms and how it manifests in the patient community. 
To further the goal of awareness and early detection, 23andMe will also be running an awareness program in collaboration with Alnylam to provide 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service kits to first-degree relatives—parents, full siblings, and adult children—of any 23andMe customer with an identified TTR variant. Hopefully, this effort will increase awareness and lead to earlier diagnosis of this condition. The program will be launched later this year.
<h2>Report Details</h2>
The new report looks at three of the most common TTR variants that account for an estimated 50-to-80 percent of TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis cases.<a id="a2" href="#f2">[2]</a>
The report does not test for all possible variants linked to TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis. Customers who do not have one of the variants 23andMe tests for could still have a variant not covered in the report.
The three variants in this report—V122I, V30M, and T60A—each occur at different frequencies among people of different ethnicities.
<h2>Facts to Keep in Mind</h2>
However, it’s important to remember that not everyone who inherits one of these variants will necessarily develop symptoms.
<ul>
<li>The V122I variant is most common in African Americans and people of West African descent. Most people with this variant have some amount of TTR protein buildup in the heart after age 60, but not all will end up with heart damage. Approximately 10 percent of African Americans over the age of 60 with congestive heart failure likely carry this variant.<a id="a3" href="#f3">[3]</a></li>
<li>The V30M variant is most common among people of Portuguese, Northern Swedish, and Japanese descent but carries different risks for each ethnicity. About 50 percent of people of Northern Swedish descent with this variant develop TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis by the age of 80, with symptoms often appearing after the age of 60. By comparison, about 90 percent of people of Portuguese descent with the V30M variant develop the condition by age 80, with symptoms appearing as early as 20-30 years of age. People of Japanese descent with the V30M variant can develop symptoms as early as their 20s or as late as their 90s, depending on family history.<a id="a4" href="#f4">[4]</a> <a id="a5" href="#f5">[5]</a></li>
<li>The T60A variant is most common in people of Irish descent. It is also found in people of British descent. People with this variant typically develop symptoms between 45 and 80 years old. Lifetime risk estimates are not available for people with this variant.<a id="a6" href="#f6">[6]</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Prevalence and Treatment</h2>
While the condition is little known and underdiagnosed, the frequency of TTR variants among certain ethnicities is relatively significant.
Estimates suggest that 1 in 28 African Americans, 1 in 67 people from Northern Sweden, 1 in 90 people from Northwest Ireland, and 1 in 625 people of Portuguese descent have one of the three variants included in 23andMe’s new report. However, there are no current estimates on how many of those with one of the three variants will go on to develop TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis.
This report, like 23andMe’s other Genetic Health Risk reports, aims to give customers an opportunity to learn of a potential health risk so that they can work with their health care provider on the best options for mitigating and managing that risk.
Treatments for TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis include the use of medications or surgical intervention to address the symptoms. Recently approved medications are now being used to decrease the production of the TTR protein. In addition, because the liver produces most of the TTR protein, some patients have benefited from liver transplants. Additional research on developing new treatment options is also currently underway.
23andMe Health + Ancestry Service customers who are on the most recent genotyping platforms can find this new report in the Health Predisposition section of their account. Not yet a customer? You can find out more about 23andMe’s Health + Ancestry Service<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/"> here</a>.
<h2>Footnotes</h2>
<footer class="footnotes"><a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a>Sekijima Y et al. (2001). &#8220;Familial Transthyretin Amyloidosis.&#8221; [Updated 2018 Dec 20].</footer><footer class="footnotes"><a id="f2" href="#a2">[2] </a>Gertz MA et al. (2015). &#8220;Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy of Transthyretin Amyloidosis.&#8221; J Am Coll Cardiol. 66(21):2451-2466.</footer><footer class="footnotes"><a id="f3" href="#a3">[3] </a>Buxbaum JN et al. (2017). &#8220;Transthyretin V122I (pV142I)* cardiac amyloidosis: an age-dependent autosomal dominant cardiomyopathy too common to be overlooked as a cause of significant heart disease in elderly African Americans.&#8221; Genet Med. 19(7):733-742.</footer><footer class="footnotes"><a id="f4" href="#a4">[4]</a> Holmgren G et al. (1994). “Geographical distribution of TTR met30 carriers in northern Sweden: discrepancy between carrier frequency and prevalence rate.” J Med Genet. 31(5):351-4.</footer><footer class="footnotes"><a id="f5" href="#a5">[5] </a>Planté-Bordeneuve V et al. (2003). &#8220;Genetic study of transthyretin amyloid neuropathies: carrier risks among French and Portuguese families.&#8221; J Med Genet. 40(11):e120.</footer><footer class="footnotes"><a id="f6" href="#a6">[6] </a>Reilly MM et al. (1995). “Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR ala 60) in north west Ireland: a clinical, genetic, and epidemiological study.” J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 59(1):45-9.</footer>


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Report Brings to Light Underdiagnosed Condition

You have a good head on your shoulders, but your genetics might be influencing whether or not you also have a little dandruff there.
<h2>Combing Through The Genetics</h2>
While we can’t brush it off for you, 23andMe scientists have identified genetic variants associated with dandruff.
As part of 23andMe’s regular cadence of releasing new<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/#toc-traits"> trait reports</a>, 23andMe now offers a report on a customer’s genetic predisposition toward having dandruff.
The new report analyzes a customer’s genetic data for 487 variants associated with dandruff, takes into account a customer&#8217;s age, sex, and ancestry, and reports back whether that customer is more or less likely to have dandruff.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-26975 aligncenter" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Dandruff-1024x536.png" alt="" width="1024" height="536" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Dandruff-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Dandruff-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Dandruff-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Dandruff-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Dandruff-1180x618.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Dandruff.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<h2>Not Just Your Genetics</h2>
Your genetics, of course, is just part of the picture. Your environment and lifestyle also influence the flaking of the skin on your scalp. And the root of the problem, or at least one possible cause, maybe in the interaction between the microbes on your scalp and your skin cells.
For some of us, these microbes — and don’t freak out because we all have ‘em — may trigger an immune response that triggers skin cells to move more rapidly, causing skin cells to flake off and form dandruff. Scientists don’t yet know why some of us are more sensitive to these microbes than others, but they’ll continue combing the data to find out why.
This report and the more than two dozen other trait reports we offer within our  Health + Ancestry Service are meant to give customers a bit more insight into the fascinating world of genetics. They also add to the understanding of how your DNA and environment interact to help influence all the many things that are part of who you are.

23andMe’s New Dandruff Report

Pregnancy or rapid changes in weight can lead to stretch marks, but your genetics play a vital role in whether you see those lines across your skin.
<h2>The Genetics of Stretch Marks</h2>
23andMe scientists have identified 544 genetic variants associated with stretch marks.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26976 size-large" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Stretch-Marks-1024x536.png" alt="An illustration with the words stretch marks" width="1024" height="536" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Stretch-Marks-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Stretch-Marks-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Stretch-Marks-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Stretch-Marks-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Stretch-Marks-1180x618.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WS-Stretch-Marks.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
As part of 23andMe’s regular cadence of releasing new <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/#toc-traits">trait reports</a>, 23andMe now offers a report on a customer’s genetic predisposition toward having stretch marks, also known as striae distensae.
The new report analyzes a customer’s genetic data against those variants we have identified. It takes into account a customer&#8217;s age, sex, and ancestry and reports back whether that customer is more or less likely to have stretch marks.
<h2>Not Just Genetics</h2>
Some of us are more susceptible to stretch marks than others because of environment, age, and sex, but genetics also plays an important role.
Studies have shown that skin cells from people with stretch marks have lower amounts of specific proteins that are important for skin elasticity and repair. So when this skin is stretched rapidly from, say, pregnancy or weight loss or gain, the damage may be repaired, but it can also leave behind marks.
More than five years ago, 23andMe<a href="https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)36019-X/fulltext"> published</a> a first-of-its-kind study looking at the genetics behind stretch marks, identifying an association near the gene that encodes for the elastin protein.
The new Stretch Marks trait report and the now more than two-dozen other trait reports we offer within the Health + Ancestry Service are meant to give customers a bit more insight into genetics. They also add to the understanding of how your DNA and environment interact to help influence all the many things that are part of who you are.

23andMe’s New Report on Stretch Marks

23andMe’s new Type 2 Diabetes report* offers customers insight into their likelihood of developing one of the most prevalent, pernicious, and yet preventable health conditions in the United States.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/T2D-Image-300x138.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-26911" title="diet and exercise can help lower risk of type 2 diabetes" width="350" height="162" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/T2D-Image-300x138.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/T2D-Image-768x354.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/T2D-Image-1024x473.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/T2D-Image-880x406.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/T2D-Image-1180x545.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/T2D-Image.jpg 1950w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />
This new report will impact more 23andMe customers than any other <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry">Health Predisposition report</a> the company has ever released. In part, this is because the likelihood of developing <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/type-2-diabetes/">type 2 diabetes</a> is so high in the general population.
“Diabetes is a significant health issue in the United States that is expected to impact nearly half of the population,&#8221; said Anne Wojcicki, CEO and Co-Founder of 23andMe. &#8220;When customers learn about their genetic likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, we believe there is an opportunity to motivate them to change their lifestyle and ultimately to help them prevent the disease.&#8221; 
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<h6>What’s a Polygenic Score?</h6>
The genes we inherit from our mother and father influence our risk of disease. While that’s pretty straightforward, the role genetics plays is a bit more complicated.
Although there are examples of a single genetic variant in a single gene causing certain conditions, it is often the case that hundreds or even thousands of variants — along with lifestyle and environmental factors — all play a role. And that’s precisely the case with type 2 diabetes.
For 23andMe’s new Type 2 Diabetes report, we created a model that incorporates more than 1,000 genetic variants to calculate a polygenic score for a customer’s likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
It’s not the first time we’ve used this method. However, it is the first time we’ve used this kind of polygenic score for a Health Predisposition report. In the past, we’ve used this method to develop our<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/23andme-releases-first-of-its-kind-genetic-weight-report/"> Genetic Weight Report</a>. That report used both genetic data — hundreds of variants associated with BMI — and non-genetic data to calculate a person’s genetic predisposition to weigh more or less than average. 
<h6>Modeled Reports</h6>
Several other trait reports similarly rely on polygenic scores. For example, 23andMe’s recent reports on<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/feeling-woozy-over-23andmes-new-report-on-motion-sickness/"> Motion Sickness</a>, the ability to<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/itching-to-see-23andmes-new-trait-reports/"> Match a Musical Pitch</a>, and estimated<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/23andme-adds-four-new-trait-reports/"> Wake Up Time</a> each use hundreds of variants to calculate one’s predisposition toward those traits.
23andMe will continue to use these kinds of polygenic modeled reports to report health predispositions to its customers. We are uniquely positioned to do this because of the data our customers contribute. This in turn allows our researchers to better understand the complex genetic underpinnings of various diseases. We can also then create polygenic models that take into account the cumulative effects of a large number of genetic variants. This allows us to give better estimates of their influence on different health conditions and diseases. 
You can learn more about how others are incorporating polygenic modeling to estimate risk by looking at coverage in the <a href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/08/polygenic-risk-scoring-flags-likelihood-of-developing-common-diseases/">Harvard Gazette</a>. That article focuses on  research done by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT, Harvard, and Massachusetts General Hospital. In the summer of 2018 the team published their findings in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0183-z?_ga=2.116551877.2133794146.1551300156-1054250013.1551300156#Abs1">Nature</a>. The study showed how they created a polygenic model to better estimate for the risk of five different conditions. The conditions included type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and coronary artery disease.
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<h6>Rising Rates of Diabetes</h6>
In the United States alone a staggering one in three Americans have prediabetes, according to estimates from<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db319.htm?utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&#038;utm_campaign=ae2c97fb19-MR_COPY_12&#038;utm_medium=email&#038;utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-ae2c97fb19-150868577"> the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. Worse, 90 percent don’t know they have it. The impact is even greater among certain ethnicities. For example, Hispanics have the highest rates of diabetes with about 20 percent having the condition.
Worldwide, as lifestyle and diets are changing, the prevalence is also increasing. Beyond the very real human costs are the healthcare costs for treating the condition.  In the United States estimates for the costs of treating diabetes are more than $327 billion per year, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Despite the alarming statistics, there’s reason to be optimistic. Type 2 diabetes is one condition that can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle and diet changes. Genetics, family history, ethnicity, and age all contribute to the likelihood for developing type 2 diabetes. But type 2 diabetes is preventable. In many cases the likelihood can be lessened with a healthier diet and exercise. That’s where this report could help, by raising awareness among customers about their likelihood of developing the condition. There is some evidence that people do make positive changes to their diet and exercise more after getting genetic testing, according to<a href="http://www.genomes2people.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/20170502_PGen_BMCMedicalGenomics_Nielsen_DietExerciseDTC.pdf"> 2017 study</a> led by<a href="http://www.genomes2people.org/about/"> researchers</a> at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Broad Institute and Harvard Medical School.
<h6>The New Report and the Genetics of Type 2 Diabetes </h6>
We hope that 23andMe’s new Type 2 Diabetes report will raise awareness about diabetes. The report also informs customers of the potential of making healthy lifestyle changes to lower one’s likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. We’re excited by the potential that this report has for making a difference in people’s lives, but it’s significant for another reason as well.
This report is built using real-world data from more than 2.5 million 23andMe customers who have opted into research. Some of those customers have the condition and others do not. Together the data from those cusomters have allowed our product scientists to create what’s called a polygenic score. To asses an individuals likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, our team created a model that takes into account more than a thousand genetic variants.
<h6></h6>
<h6>Polygenic Score</h6>
Research has shown that type 2 diabetes is partially impacted by many genetics. Many genetic variants  each individually have a tiny impact on the likelihood of developing it. The Type 2 Diabetes report calculates the combined effects of more than 1,000 of these variants. These variants, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs)  are variations in DNA sequence at particular locations in the genome. The calculation uses all these variants to arrive at a polygenic score.  The report can help customers learn how their genetics, influence the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. It also looks at other factors such as  weight, age and lifestyle. In addition, the report also suggests actions customers can take to lower that likelihood.
Unlike other 23andMe health reports we developed and validated the Type 2 Diabetes report  completely on 23andMe research data. The report also underwent scientific review by our team of scientists, as well as reviews by our Medical Affairs and Regulatory teams. In addition, to create this report 23andMe relied on the expertise and knowledge of external experts. We included input from other scientific and medical professionals who are familiar with polygenic scores and the condition itself.
To learn more about the science behind 23andMe’s new Type 2 Diabetes report see <a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/23_19-Type2Diabetes_March2019.pdf">our white paper</a>.
*Note: The 23andMe Type 2 Diabetes report is based on 23andMe research and incorporates more than 1,000 genetic variants to provide information on the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.  The report does not account for lifestyle or family history and has not been reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration. Visit www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/type-2-diabetes for additional important information.
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23andMe Offers New Genetic Report on Type 2 Diabetes

<a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/fh/">Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH)</a> is one of the most common genetic conditions, which is associated with very high levels of “bad” cholesterol. Elevated levels of cholesterol can lead to a higher risk for early cardiovascular disease, and, in turn, an increased risk for heart attacks.
Even though FH is relatively common — affecting about 1 in 250 people worldwide — awareness of the condition is very low. That combined with the lack of symptoms, means that people with FH often go undiagnosed. 
In fact, as many as <a href="https://thefhfoundation.org/about-us/who-are-we">90 percent of people</a> with FH don’t know they have it. If left untreated, men with the condition have a 50 percent chance of having a heart attack by age 50, while untreated women with the condition have about a 30 percent risk of a heart attack by age 60,<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12732381"> according to published studies.</a>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WS-FH-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26893" width="1024" height="536" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WS-FH-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WS-FH-300x157.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WS-FH-768x402.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WS-FH-880x461.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WS-FH-1180x618.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WS-FH.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<h6>A Positive First Step for FH </h6>
Today 23andMe added a new <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry">Genetic Health Risk</a>* report on FH* which can tell individuals about their risk of developing high cholesterol associated with the condition. Given its expertise as the leading research and patient advocacy organization for the FH community, the FH Foundation provided input on the patient journey, the report’s content and associated educational resources. 
This new report could give an early warning for people who otherwise wouldn’t know of their risk, given the lack of awareness around the condition. Because there are few physical signs or symptoms, many people don’t know they have FH and how it can affect their cholesterol levels. However, when diagnosed early in life, the condition can be treated effectively to substantially reduce the risk of heart attack.
“Nine out of ten people born with familial hypercholesterolemia in the United States are undiagnosed, leaving them at risk for heart disease in the prime of life. Unlike many genetic conditions, FH is highly actionable.  Early diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment save lives,” said Katherine Wilemon, Founder and CEO of the<a href="https://thefhfoundation.org/"> FH Foundation</a>, a global research and advocacy organization. “The new 23andMe report, will not find everyone with an FH mutation, but it can be a positive first step for prevention by providing early detection for those who have one of the FH variants reported on.”
<h6>A New Genetic Health Risk Report for Familial Hypercholesterolemia </h6>
23andMe’s new Familial Hypercholesterolemia Genetic Health Risk report looks at 24 variants in the LDLR and APOB genes linked to the condition that have been shown to increase one’s risk of elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, and as a result, aggressive and premature cardiovascular disease. 23andMe’s report looks at some of the more common variants in people of European and Lebanese ancestry, as well as people from the “Old Order Amish” community. The variants in the report are also found in people of other ethnicities. Our team of scientists conducted an extensive review of the currently available peer-reviewed publications on the genetic variants associated with FH. We determined that those included in this report are among some of the more common in certain populations and well-studied.
“Through this report, 23andMe is providing individuals with potentially life-saving information about their risk for high LDL cholesterol levels associated with FH. We are grateful for the input from the FH Foundation on the patient journey and how we can continue to educate individuals about their risk for this often undiagnosed genetic condition,” said Arin Assero, Director of Advocacy at 23andMe.
<h6>FH and LDL </h6>
People with FH have very high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) — so-called “bad cholesterol.” This is because genetic variants, or mutations, associated with the condition decrease the liver&#8217;s ability to remove excess LDL cholesterol from the blood. The result is often much higher LDL levels in the bloodstream. This in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease and a higher risk for heart attack. Other factors influence a person’s chances for heart disease or high cholesterol such as smoking, diet, exercise, and weight. However 23andMe’s report focuses specifically on genetic factors for FH and its influence on the risk for high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
Importantly, since FH is an inherited condition, each child of a person with FH has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the disorder so it is essential to screen parents, siblings and children of a person diagnosed with FH. This will aid in finding others who may have inherited the condition. 
<h6>Limitations</h6>
There are limitations to the 23andMe report. It looks at  only a few select variants of the more than 1,000 associated with the condition. About 30-35 percent of people who are of European descent with a variant linked to FH have one of the variants in this report. In the case of individuals with FH of Lebanese ancestry, about 80 percent have one of the variants in this report. About 15-20 percent of Latinos and people of East Asian ancestry with a variant linked to FH have one of the variants in 23andMe&#8217;s report. 
Given the report’s limitations, many 23andMe customers will receive a 0 variant result. This does not mean they have no risk for the condition. It also doesn&#8217;t mean they should forgo regular screening for cholesterol particularly if they have a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease. In addition, the report is unable to detect if a person has two copies of a variant. Having two copies of a variant  is associated with the more severe form of FH called homozygous FH. The FH Foundation can provide more resources on FH. It can also serve as a care navigator for individuals with a <a href="https://thefhfoundation.org/fh-genetic-test-results">positive or negative</a> test result.
There are currently effective treatments that can lower the risks associated with FH. However, early detection is critical. 23andMe and the FH Foundation are committed to raising awareness of familial hypercholesterolemia. We are working to advocate for access to early detection and treatment.

The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is  not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. The Familial Hypercholesterolemia genetic health risk report is indicated for reporting of one variant in the APOB gene and 23 variants in the LDLR gene and describes if a person has variants associated with an increased risk of developing very high LDL cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease.  The majority of the variants included in this report have been most studied in people of European and Lebanese descent, as well as in the Old Order Amish.

23andMe Offers a New Report on Familial Hypercholesterolemia

If even the idea of a boat trip triggers a bit of nausea, you may be able to partly blame it on your genetics.
23andMe scientists have identified more than 413 genetic variants associated with motion sickness — that queasy feeling some of us get riding in cars, planes or traveling on the sea.
23andMe now offers a report on a customer’s genetic predisposition for motion sickness. Using data from more than 480,000 customers who’ve participated in research, 23andMe’s new report analyzes a customer’s genetic data against variants associated with motion sickness. On top of using genetic factors the report also takes into account non-genetic factors such as a customers age, sex, and ancestry, and then reports back whether a customer is more or less likely to experience motion sickness.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26858" width="1024" height="1024" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-768x768.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-880x880.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness-980x980.png 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1080x1080-Motion-Sickness.png 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
The sensation comes, in part, from one’s body trying to maintain balance. To keep our balance, we all rely on signals from multiple sources, both visual and physical, as well as signals from the vestibular system in our inner ear. When those sensory signals conflict — say our vision tells us we are sitting still, but we can feel ourselves moving in a car or on a boat — it can trigger feelings of nausea or dizziness. A person’s genetics may make them more or less susceptible to feeling motion sickness.
While seemingly trivial, it’s not for those who experience severe cases. And motion sickness has been found to be associated with several other more serious conditions. 23andMe previously published a<a href="https://academic.oup.com/hmg/article/24/9/2700/2385879"> study</a> that confirmed associations with such conditions as migraines, vertigo, and morning sickness.
This report, as well as the now more than two-dozen<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/#toc-traits"> other trait reports</a> we offer within the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/"> Health + Ancestry</a> Service, are meant to give customers a bit more insight into the fascinating world of genetics. They also add to the understanding of how your DNA and environment interact to help influence all the many things that are part of who you are.

Feeling Woozy Over 23andMe’s New Report on Motion Sickness

23andMe received FDA clearance to report on the two most common genetic variants influencing what is called MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26850" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1200x628-MUTYH-2.5-300x157.png" alt="MUTYH-associated polyposis, a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome" width="300" height="157" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1200x628-MUTYH-2.5-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1200x628-MUTYH-2.5-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1200x628-MUTYH-2.5-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1200x628-MUTYH-2.5-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1200x628-MUTYH-2.5-1180x618.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1200x628-MUTYH-2.5.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
This new clearance is part of 23andMe&#8217;s ongoing efforts to work with the FDA to offer additional Genetic Health Risk reports as part of its <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry">Health + Ancestry Service</a>.
“We are committed to giving people affordable and direct access to important health information that can impact their lives,” said Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe CEO and co-founder. 
<h2>A Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Syndrom</h2>
The MAP report is not yet available, but as soon as it is ready for release, it will be offered to new Health + Ancestry Service customers and existing 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service customers genotyped on the company’s most recent platforms. Like the 23andMe BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report, customers must first choose whether or not they want to receive this information.
If customers choose to view their report, they’ll go through an educational module to ensure they are informed about what they can learn from it and how to interpret the results. Customers also learn about the report&#8217;s limitations. Customers take a similar step to access other 23andMe Genetic Health Risk reports.
For example, information associated with the MAP report will clearly state that hereditary colorectal cancers only account for about 5 percent of all colorectal cancer cases. This is important to understand because not having one of the variants that 23andMe tests for does not mean that a customer does not have any risk for this kind of cancer. Additionally, this report does not look at variants associated with Lynch syndrome, which is the most common form of inherited colorectal cancer. Also, more than 100 variants in the MUTYH gene are <a href="https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/10805/myh-associated-polyposis">linked to MAP.</a>
<h2>MUTYH and Genetic Risk for Colon Cancer</h2>
The two variants included in 23andMe’s MAP report account for the majority (about 80-90 percent) of MUTYH variants in people of Northern European descent. They are also the most prevalent in people with Northern European ancestry, at between 1 and 2 percent. These variants have also been found in people of other ethnicities.
Carrying both of these variants or having two copies of one of these variants increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer. If left unchecked, carrying both of these variants or having two copies of one increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer to between 43 and 100 percent. The risk for those who have just one variant is uncertain. That said, some studies suggest that the colorectal cancer risk may be slightly increased, particularly for those with a family history of colorectal cancer.
<h2>FDA Clearance</h2>
The FDA clearance for 23andMe’s MUTYH-Associated Polyposis Genetic Health Risk report demonstrates substantial equivalence, through the FDA’s 510(k) pathway, to its predicate device 23andMe’s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report.
This FDA clearance follows several years of work by 23andMe. It has led to four separate FDA de novo authorizations for direct-to-consumer genetic tests for carrier status, genetic health risk reports, select BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants and pharmacogenetic reports. Each has included an extensive FDA review process. During that process, 23andMe submitted studies and evidence demonstrating that our reports are scientifically valid and understandable for consumers, and we showed that the results are analytically reliable.
For this newest clearance, the MUTYH-Associated Polyposis Genetic Health Risk report adhered to the same standards used in our other reports. That includes ensuring greater than 99 percent accuracy and reports with key informational concepts that achieved 90 percent or greater comprehension in a demographically diverse population.

MUTYH-associated polyposis, a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome

Health + Traits — Page 18