Last week we quizzed our readers on traits associated with BMI among 23andMe’s customers. Congratulations to Suellen, the winner of the quiz! She got all three answers correct and will receive an Amazon gift card. So what were the correct answers? Read on&#8230;
Which physical trait is most associated with BMI? Shoe size.
<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #ccc; width: 600px;"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-12686" title="BMI-physical" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-physical-1024x442.png" alt="" width="600" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-physical-1024x442.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-physical-300x130.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-physical-768x332.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-physical-880x380.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-physical-1180x510.png 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Shoe size is very strongly correlated with BMI in 23andMe’s database. For each standard deviation increase in shoe size, BMI increases by 1.18 units. Put another way, the BMI of the bottom fifth of the shoe size distribution is 3.21 units lower on average than that of the top fifth. This corresponds to a difference of about 20 lbs in people who are 5’8” tall.
We’re really not sure what to make out of this one. Shoe size is also correlated with height but when we factored height into the analysis shoe size was still the most strongly correlated trait. Anecdotally, people’s shoe sizes can increase or decrease with weight gain and loss. It’s possible that people with wider feet may compensate by increasing their shoe size instead of choosing a wider shoe of the same size, or perhaps shoe size is a proxy for body frame, and people with larger shoe sizes have “bigger bones”. Have a theory? Add it to the comments below.
Having a round face, low arches, upturned nose, and feet that point outwards are also associated with BMI but to a lesser extent.
Which food item is most associated with BMI? Diet soda.
<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #ccc; width: 600px;"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-12687" title="BMI-food" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-food-1024x430.png" alt="" width="600" /></div>
The surprise for us here was that ice cream consumption was not really correlated with BMI at all. On the other hand, people who drink diet soda five or more times a day have an average BMI nearly 5 units higher than those who never drink diet soda. Not to imply that we should all trade in that diet coke for a double hot fudge sundae &#8212; we don’t know whether drinking soda is a cause, a consequence, or just linked to something else that causes weight gain. These findings do, however, parallel that of a study conducted in Texas, in which normal weight individuals were followed for 8 years. People who reported drinking more diet soda gained more weight over those 8 years, suggesting that diet soda might actually lead more directly to weight gain.(1) But for now, the jury’s still out.
Some other foods were associated with BMI, too, including red meat, yogurt, and vegetables.
Which personality or behavior trait is most associated with BMI? Activity and depression.
<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #ccc; width: 600px;"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-12688" title="BMI-personality" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-personality-1024x549.png" alt="" width="600" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-personality-1024x549.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-personality-300x161.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-personality-768x412.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-personality-880x472.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BMI-personality-1180x633.png 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
These are less of a surprise. Activity is strongly correlated with BMI, and is no doubt due to the calorie burning benefits of exercise. The reverse may also be true &#8212; being overweight may itself decrease activity levels, creating a vicious cycle.
For depression, the arrow of causation seems to point in both directions. For example, a recent meta-analysis found that being overweight or obese increased the risk of developing depression, and having depression increased the risk of becoming obese.(2)
Having greater levels of self-discipline was correlated with lower BMI to a lesser extent, but aside from this we didn’t find a significant relationship between BMI and any other personality factors.
Check back soon for our next quiz and another chance to win!
(1)  Fowler, SP, Williams, K, Resendez, RG, Hunt, KJ, Hazuda, HP, &amp; Stern, MP. (2008). Fueling the Obesity Epidemic? Artificially Sweetened Beverage Use and Long-term Weight Gain. Epidemiology, 16(8): 1894-1900.
(2)  Luppino, FS, de Wit, LM, Bouvy, PF, Stijnen, T, Cuijpers, P, Penninx, BWJH, Zitman, FG (2010). Overweight, Obesity, and Depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(3):220-229.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Quiz Answers: Traits Associated With BMI

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-12577" title="Stock Photo" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Mexican-Heritage-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Mexican-Heritage-300x197.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Mexican-Heritage.jpg 427w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Today is Cinco de Mayo. This day commemorates the Mexican army&#8217;s 1862 victory over France in the Battle of Puebla (not Mexican independence day as is commonly believed), but is more widely observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.
There are different ways to celebrate Mexican culture – <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiesta" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fiestas</a> around the country host <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mariachi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mariachi</a> performances and a trip to a taqueria shouldn’t be missed. Another way to celebrate Mexican heritage is through DNA.
I reached out to my good friend Miguel who hails from the state of Jalisco in Mexico to see what he’s discovered about his ancestry through <a href="https://www.23andme.com/ancestry/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">23andMe&#8217;s Personal Genome Service</a>.
<h6>Native American Ancestry</h6>
Like many Mexicans, Miguel learned through family stories that he has both Native American and European ancestry. It turns out that roughly 69% of his DNA traces to Europe, 28% is suggestive of Native American ancestry, and about 3% traces to Africa.
He’s been told that his Native American ancestry comes from his maternal side and this was confirmed by investigating his <a href="https://www.23andme.com/you/haplogroup/maternal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">maternal line</a>. Miguel’s maternal lineage (C1c) is very old and typically found in Native Americans and native Asian populations. This data contributed to 23andMe’s Native American Ancestry Finder feature proclaiming, “Yes Miguel, it looks likely that you have Native American ancestry”.
His European ancestry comes from his father’s side and this was confirmed by investigating his <a href="https://www.23andme.com/you/haplogroup/paternal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">paternal line</a> (R1b1b2a1a2f), an offshoot of the most common line in western Europe (R1b1b2) and found at high frequency in Basque populations. This fits with what Miguel’s been told about his European roots.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-12616" title="Miguel Maternal Line" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Miguel-Maternal-Line-1024x470.png" alt="" width="600" height="280" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-12627" title="Miguel Paternal Line" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Miguel-Paternal-Line-1024x499.png" alt="" width="600" height="280" />
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23andMe customers can learn all about their ancestry in <a href="https://www.23andme.com/you/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">their account. 
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Not yet a customer? <a href="https://www.23andme.com/store" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Visit our store</a>!
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<h6>Ancestry Finder</h6>
Perhaps the most eye-catching part of Miguel’s DNA voyage is found in his Ancestry Finder profile (see figure below). This feature combines DNA matches (segments of DNA you share with other 23andMe customers) with self-reported ancestry data obtained from our Where Are You From? survey. Based on his results, he shares DNA with several other 23andMe customers who have Mexican and South American ancestors.
Even if you don’t have Mexican ancestry like Miguel, we wish all of you a happy Cinco de Mayo. Go get your taco and toast to Miguel for helping us discover that DNA can help you “cinco” in on your ancestry!
Miguel&#8217;s Ancestry Finder Data 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-12645 size-large" title="Ancestry Finder Miguel" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ancestry-Finder-Miguel-1024x400.png" alt="" width="1024" height="400" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ancestry-Finder-Miguel-1024x400.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ancestry-Finder-Miguel-300x117.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ancestry-Finder-Miguel-768x300.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ancestry-Finder-Miguel-880x343.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ancestry-Finder-Miguel-1180x460.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ancestry-Finder-Miguel.png 1502w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Interested in ancestry? Read about how <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/ancestry-at-23andme-introducing-sheridan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sheridan got up to speed</a> on her ancestry and <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/ancestry-at-23andme-what-can-you-learn" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">get an overview</a> of the breadth 23andMe’s ancestry features. DNA can also offer clues about <a href="../2012/03/16/did-you-know-dna-can-offer-clues-about-irish-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Irish ancestry</a>.

Zero in on Mexican Ancestry on Cinco de Mayo

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What Causes Parkinson&#8217;s Disease? 

The symptoms of Parkinson’s are thought to stem from a loss of dopamine-producing brain cells that normally control movement, but what causes these cells to die off in the first place is difficult to answer. Toxins and other environmental factors can play a role, but so does genetics. In some cases Parkinson’s is primarily due to genetics, in other cases it is largely environmental, and most of the time it’s a mix of the two.
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About 1.5 million Americans have Parkinson’s and about 50,000 new patients are diagnosed each year. Many of us have seen loved ones suffer through years of trembling and muscle weakness knowing that things will eventually get worse because there isn’t a cure.
But that’s where science comes in. The primary goal of the more than 800 Parkinson&#8217;s genetic association studies published to date is to identify the genetics underlying this condition so that we can understand what goes wrong and develop therapies.
Dozens of genetic factors have been linked to Parkinson’s disease and some of these findings meet 23andMe’s internal scientific standards and are reported to customers. We’ve been providing genetic results for Parkinson’s to customers since 2008 and last week we added five more factors to our report.
(See below for a timeline of 23andMe’s contributions to Parkinson’s research and history of providing customers with genetic results for Parkinson&#8217;s.)
<div style="border: 1px solid #eee; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-12468 size-full" title="Slide2" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Slide23.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Slide23-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Slide23-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Slide23-372x372.jpg 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></div>

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23andMe customers can view their genetic results for Parkinson&#8217;s Disease in their account (note that this report requires an additional opt in).
Not yet a customer? <a href="https://www.23andme.com/store">Visit our store</a>!
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Our first report on Parkinson’s disease included the G2019S mutation in the LRRK2 gene. Only about 1-2% of the general population develops Parkinson’s, but studies have shown that about 50% of people with the G2019S mutation will develop the disease in their life time.
We later added the G2385R mutation in the LRRK2 gene, which is applicable to people with Asian ancestry and is associated with about three times higher odds of developing Parkinson’s.
In April of 2011 (and timed for <a href="http://www.parkinson.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parkinson’s disease awareness</a> month) we added variants in the GBA, SNCA and MAPT genes to our genetic report on Parkinson’s. The N370S mutation in the GBA gene is associated with about four times higher risk of Parkinson’s and may exert its influence by making cells more sensitive to toxins. The rest of the factors reported by 23andMe, including the SNCA and MAPT variants and versions of  PARK16, DGKQ, BST1, STK39 added last week, have much smaller effects on risk for the disease but are much more common in the population than LRRK2 or GBA mutations.
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You Can Help!
<div>For Parkinson’s Awareness Month we’ve posted stories, interviews and given updates on the state of research on Parkinson’s, which includes 23andMe&#8217;s very own <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parkinson’s disease research community</a>.</div>
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<div>With your help, we topped our goal of enrolling 7,500 participants by the end of April and are en route to our long-term goal of 10,000 participants.</div>
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<div>If you have Parkinson’s,  <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">join our Parkinson’s community</a> and participate in research. If you don’t have Parkinson’s, contribute by becoming a <a href="https://www.23andme.com/store/cart/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">23andMe customer</a>  and answering surveys. You can make a difference!&#8221;</div>
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Alongside reporting genetic results to customers we’ve also been carrying out research on Parkinson’s. Over 7,000 individuals have enrolled in our Parkinson’s Disease community and with their help and the participation of other customers we’ve <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1002141" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">discovered new genetic factors</a> for Parkinson’s that we <a href="https://www.23andme.com/health/Parkinsons-Disease-Preliminary-Research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">report back to our customers</a>. We’ve also identified a genetic factor in a gene called SGK1 that may protect individuals with risky versions of LRRK2 from developing Parkinson’s.
We&#8217;re currently partnering with other researchers to see if this initial finding can lead to new treatments.
People with Parkinson’s disease still suffer too much, but it’s clear that research efforts over the last decade are getting us closer to understanding what causes this disorder. It’s also becoming clear that early detection can help delay the progression of Parkinson’s and that’s good news all around. There are many more outstanding questions, for instance understanding how genetic and environmental factors interact, and hopefully in time we’ll find some answers. The 23andMe community has progressed Parkinson’s research tremendously and we hope that you’ll continue to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">give us your hand</a> in the years ahead.
The author’s paternal grandfather passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 2005. He was deeply loved and in her thoughts as she wrote this piece.

23andMe and Parkinson’s: Past, Present, and Future

Andrew Rubin and Ricardo Villarreal’s film Ride With Larry is about more than a guy with Parkinson’s pedaling across South Dakota.
It&#8217;s about the singular idea that whatever life throws at you the best choice is to live to the fullest.
“I’ll never give up,” Larry Smith says at one point during the film. “I know that this will some day take me, but I’m not going to walk away from life.”<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SNblbb3tyGI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>
We first heard about Larry when Andrew and Ricardo came through town to interview our CEO Anne Wojcicki and Emily Drabant, who heads up our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/">Parkinson’s Research Community</a>.
Larry is a retired police captain who opened a small town bakery. His example has already inspired his family and the people in his small town of Vermillion. Andrew and Ricardo hope to inspire others with Larry’s story. For Andrew the film is also personal as his own father and a cousin are living with Parkinson’s. He hopes to rally people behind efforts to research the disease, including 23andMe’s own <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/">Parkinson’s Research Community</a>.
A few days ago we got wind that “Ride with Larry” was in post-production, along with the note, “Would we like to see a short preview?”
It’s an awesome peek at what the filmmakers have been up to and we&#8217;re grateful that they’ve shared it with us.
Andrew and Ricardo, who are still busy editing, also were gracious enough to answer a few questions.
How is Larry doing since you guys finished up?
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-12535 size-full" title="AndrewRicardo" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AndrewRicardo.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="276" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AndrewRicardo.jpg 525w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AndrewRicardo-300x158.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px" />
Andrew and Ricardo: Larry is doing great; he is obviously very excited about the film and can&#8217;t wait for it to be finished. Larry has become a small celebrity in his state of South Dakota and continues to inspire his community in many ways, including his determination to get up everyday and bake his famous bread.  Since we finished shooting last summer, Larry also has a new granddaughter.
In terms of his battle with Parkinson&#8217;s, Larry continues to fight.  He  exercises  regularly and this June the people of Vermillion, SD are planning a one day ride in honor of Larry to continue raising awareness for Parkinson&#8217;s.
What have you learned or are most excited about from the experience of shooting this film?
Ricardo: What I learned from shooting this incredible story is that life is so precious and there is no excuse not to enjoy it and live it the best way you can.
Although there&#8217;s no cure for Parkinson&#8217;s yet, we have the power and the choice to live life to the fullest. This experience also taught me that real heroes can be found within ordinary people. You don&#8217;t have to be someone famous, rich, or powerful to be a role model and to make a positive impact in your community.
The excitement about shooting the film is that we have this great opportunity to share this inspiring story with the world and spread Larry&#8217;s message of hope.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-12536" title="Ride with Larry" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ride-with-Larry-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ride-with-Larry-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ride-with-Larry-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ride-with-Larry-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ride-with-Larry-587x880.jpg 587w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ride-with-Larry-787x1180.jpg 787w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ride-with-Larry-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />
At the same time,  we are also excited to work together with great organizations that are working hard to find a cure for Parkinson&#8217;s and we want to be part of this movement. Nothing would be more rewarding than to know our film has inspired many people to live better. Additionally, we believe our film can help bring more people to contribute to Parkinson&#8217;s research. Everyone can make a difference, and the more people get involved, the closer we will be to finding a cure.
Andrew: In the process of making this film I learned to embody the very lessons I&#8217;ve witnessed behind the lens of a camera.  Making Ride with Larry has given me perspective.  Every day I watch the struggles of both my father and Larry as they battle Parkinson&#8217;s and Larry&#8217;s wife Betty and my own mother as they confront the difficulties of life as a caretaker.
In the act of telling Larry&#8217;s story, I have come to recognize that in sharing his message, I must also learn it and live it.  The struggles of Parkinson&#8217;s are of the whole body and mind.  They are second-to-second, nerve ending to muscle.  And they choose not to succumb.  If I can face my challenges, no matter how small or large, with the gift of perspective, then I know I can rise to meet them.
It has been amazing not just to be a witness to Larry&#8217;s victory, but to be a part of his ride.  The next exciting part of this journey will be in sharing this story with the world and working to get as many people as possible involved in the Parkinson&#8217;s community and the search for a cure.
What&#8217;s next?
Ricardo: With &#8220;Ride with Larry&#8221;, the next thing is just around the corner: to show this film to audiences everywhere and to grow this movement.

Ride With Larry

In an effort to extend the state’s privacy protections to people’s genetic material, California State Senator <a href="http://dist20.casen.govoffice.com/">Alex Padilla</a> D-Pacoima recently introduced the California Genetic Information Privacy Act.
Last year, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law <a href="../2011/09/07/california-governor-signs-law-to-protect-against-genetic-discrimination/">another bill authored</a> by Padilla that extended the state’s anti-discrimination laws to bar discrimination based on genetic information.
The bill introduced earlier this year, <a href="http://dist20.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&amp;SEC=%7B5EACFA15-EA6B-41D8-9711-C030F9FAD5EE%7D&amp;DE=%7B84E67402-17EA-4BF9-8952-2F3FED2DEEC0%7D">Senate Bill 1267</a>, would prevent the secret collection and testing of a person’s genetic material. Specifically the law would bar collection of genetic material without a person’s written consent. The law would impose criminal and civil penalties for violations.
“SB 1267 would extend California privacy protections to a person’s genetic material and information,” said Senator Padilla. “We have laws to protect the privacy of our financial information, our medical records, and even the books we check out from the local library. We need genetic privacy protections because nothing is more personal than our DNA.”

Proposal to Extend Genetic Privacy Protections in California

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-12514 size-medium" title="MJF, Todd and Anne" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MJF-Todd-and-Anne-300x189.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="189" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MJF-Todd-and-Anne-300x189.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MJF-Todd-and-Anne-768x483.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MJF-Todd-and-Anne.jpg 864w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Todd Sherer, CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, with Michael J. Fox and Anne Wojcicki
Michael J. Fox is a great actor, but his smiles and good humor during a visit to 23andMe headquarters in Mountain View this week were fully sincere.
<h2>Living with Parkinson&#8217;s</h2>
“I really mean what I say when I express optimism, positivity, and gratitude,” Michael said. “I don’t have those dark moments, but at the same time, having said that, I know people with Parkinson’s suffer depression. I know I live a rarified life and have had good fortune. I don’t mean to compare my attitude to others.”
His stop at 23andMe was part of a sort of mini-West Coast tour with stops in Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland. Joining him were other officials from the <a href="http://www.michaeljfox.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Michael J. Fox Foundation</a>, which included CEO Todd Sherer and Debi Brooks, the foundation’s co-founder and Executive Vice Chairman.
<h2>A Force for Research</h2>
Since it was formed just over a decade ago, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised more than $285 million for Parkinson’s research, and the actor has brought worldwide attention to the illness.
The foundation has also been an intimate partner with 23andMe’s work on Parkinson’s. (The Foundation posted a blog on the visit <a href="http://blog.michaeljfox.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.) While the partnership has already borne fruit, initially, it required the foundation to take a risk on us, said our CEO Anne Wojcicki.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-12527" title="Anne&amp;MJF" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AnneMJF-300x266.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="266" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AnneMJF-300x266.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AnneMJF-768x682.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AnneMJF-880x781.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AnneMJF.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
“None of this could have happened if we didn’t partner with the Michael J. Fox Foundation,” Anne said during the visit. “I come from the research world, and a lot of scientists don’t like to take risks or try something new.”
<h2>A New Kind of Research</h2>
But the gamble has paid off. In a short time, 23andMe’s <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parkinson’s Research Community</a> has grown to more than 7,500, the world’s largest Parkinson’s community for genetic research. In that time, we’ve been able to replicate known genetic associations for Parkinson’s; we’ve discovered two new genetic associations with the disease; and late last year, we found a genetic variant that is possibly protective against the disease.
This is all heady stuff, said Michael.
“What excites me is what the Fox Foundation is doing with 23andMe,” he said. “Especially after today…it’s crucial work you’re doing.”
Still boyishly handsome at 50, Fox has become known not just for his acting and good humor but also for his philanthropy and the work he has done on Parkinson’s. First diagnosed in 1991, he has continued to act while raising his four children and working with the foundation.
During his visit, he asked questions of employees at 23andMe.
<h2>Big-Time Heroes</h2>
He said he had inspired so many people, and he was asked who had inspired him.
“My big-time heroes are Gandhi, (Martin Luther King), and Nelson Mandela,” he said. “People who respond to negativity with positivity, optimism, and non-violence. Those are my mega heroes. But the Parkinson’s patient community inspires me. The scientific community inspires me, and anyone seeking knowledge inspires me. So, you all inspire me. And my kids.”
Fox said he’d spoken with an English researcher looking into optimism and was told his genetics fit the profile of someone with a predisposition toward optimism.
“I like to say it’s in my genes,” he said.
And, of course, he got a few movie star questions: 
“Did you really ride on a hoverboard for Back to the Future II?
“I had a pink piece of plastic stapled to my feet, and I was strapped hanging from a cherry picker,” he said.
“If we collectively find a cure, would you agree to star in another Back to the Future movie?
“Sure, but I’ll play Doc this time.”

Michael J. Fox, Our Big-Time Hero

<img decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-219" title="feetscale" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/feetscale.jpg" alt="" width="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/feetscale.jpg 425w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/feetscale-300x199.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px" />
Besides height and weight, can you guess what feature is most strongly correlated with body mass index (BMI)? Over the next few months, we’ll be testing your knowledge of some of the most interesting associations we’re seeing in the 23andMe database. Guess right, and you could win cool prizes, including gift cards and 23andMe schwag! Then come back the next week to learn the answers and see who won.
This quiz is now closed. Read on to learn more about how we find these associations! 
 
What can we discover?
23andMe helps its customers connect with the latest research on correlations between genetic variations and health conditions and traits. These genetic variations could be pieces of the puzzle explaining why some people develop, say, type 2 diabetes, or why some people have curly hair.
With the help of our customers we’ve also made new discoveries of genetic associations for things like smelling the asparagus when you pee, Parkinson’s disease, and hypothyroidism. But you can explore correlations between practically anything, and 23andMe’s database, which so far has more than 150,000 genotyped customers contributing more than 40 million answers on hundreds of different topics, is a uniquely powerful platform for discovery.
What’s in a correlation?
<div style="border: 1px solid #ccc; width: 315px; padding: 10px; margin-left: 15px; background-color: #eee; font-size: 11px; float: right;">
Does correlation imply causation?
No. Correlation sometimes points to causes &#8212; cigarette smoke contributing directly to lung cancer is a common example &#8212; but it can often be due to some other underlying factor. For example, owning a house may be correlated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes*, but this doesn’t mean that home ownership protects you from having the disease. Instead, it could be that some other factor, such as higher socioeconomic status, makes it more likely that someone is able to buy a house as well as eat a healthier diet, which helps lower one’s risk for type 2 diabetes.
To avoid these sorts of “phantom” associations, researchers often add include demographic or other factors in their analyses to see if those factors explain away the findings. This is usually referred to as “controlling for” various factors.
* fictitious example
</div>
When we search for correlations, we’re looking to see whether there’s a relationship between two different variables, such as smoking and lung cancer. Sometimes we might investigate the relationship between two specific things, but often researchers will look at many different variables to see if any of them are correlated with the outcome of interest. In genetic associations, most studies routinely look at thousands or millions of genetic variants to find correlations with a trait or disease.
When we do this, we are essentially testing many different hypotheses at once. Each variable that you investigate gives you another chance to find a correlation, but if you find one, is it because it’s a real correlation, or simply because you looked at so many variables that one of them just happened to work? We can calculate statistics to measure how likely it is for a finding to be due to chance (also called “statistical significance”), and adjust these statistics based on how many different things we’re testing. After all that’s said and done, the less likely it is that a finding is due to chance, the more likely it is to represent a real association.
More than genetics
Because 23andMe looks at numerous traits as well as genetics, we can explore not just whether genetic factors are correlated with traits, but whether different traits are correlated with each other. For example, we’ve tested BMI against approximately 1000 different traits, habits, and conditions reported by our customers. What we found might surprise you&#8230;
<a title="Quiz Answers: Traits Associated With BMI" href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/bmi-quiz-answers/">Check out this post to see what we discovered!</a>

What Do Diet and Personality Have to Do With BMI?

If you were facing a daunting diagnosis you would want the news to come from someone like Dr. J. William Langston.
Engaged and intelligent, he has the kind of optimism you don’t expect from a physician who has spent decades working to unravel the complexities of Parkinson’s disease.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-12362 size-medium" title="Langston" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Langston-253x300.jpg" alt="" width="253" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Langston-253x300.jpg 253w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Langston-741x880.jpg 741w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Langston.jpg 750w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 253px) 100vw, 253px" />
“Things have changed dramatically in that time,” Dr. Langston says, his eyes squinting as he smiles. “There is a lot to be optimistic about.”
Some of those changes are because of the work he’s done. As the Scientific Director, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the<a href="http://www.thepi.org/"> Parkinson’s Institute</a>, Dr. Langston was recently singled out for his work and awarded the 2012 Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson&#8217;s Research.
After picking up the award in New York, Langston, who also serves on 23andMe’s Parkinson’s Research Community<a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd/#section4"> Scientific Advisory Board</a>, stopped by our office to talk about the state of the science of Parkinson’s and share a little about his career in the process.
In a way, Langston is already the doctor for anyone with Parkinson’s – his contributions to research, treatment and diagnosis of the disease are that important. And those contributions started almost 30 years ago with the famous case of the “Frozen Addicts.”  This fascinating medical mystery, solved by Dr. Langston, involved a handful young people who in a matter of days became debilitated with advanced Parkinson’s symptoms that would normally have taken a patient decades to develop. Langston found that they were all linked to the same batch of synthetic heroin, contaminated with<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPTP"> MPTP</a>, a neurotoxin that “lasers like a Nike missile on the same nerve cells in the brain that die in Parkinson’s,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substantia_nigra"> (in the) substantia nigra</a>,” Dr. Langston said.
“That really revolutionized research because it gave us a model and a way to study neurological cell death in Parkinson’s,” he said.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-11373" title="researchrevolution-fist" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/researchrevolution-fist-173x300.jpg" alt="" width="173" height="300" />
That work led Langston to found the Parkinson’s Institute, a place where basic research, clinical research and patient care could be done side-by-side. He believes it gives context and perspective for his researchers.
“Anyone working on this disease will feel a sense of urgency, because they see it,” Dr. Langston said.
And in the last 30 years the work has helped produce some of the insights that have significantly changed outcomes for people with Parkinson’s.
Doctors have changed how they use drugs to treat the disease. For a time the problem wasn’t so much that the drugs didn’t work but that side effects would build up to the point where doses would have to be lowered right at the time when they were needed most. Now, doctors are getting much better at calibrating the use of medicine and managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
While there have been great leaps in understanding of the disease, insight into its progression and avenues for research into a cure, Dr. Langston pointed out that simply diagnosing Parkinson’s early enough – when symptoms are largely benign – and then using medication to halt or drastically slow its progression, would be a great success. Here he felt researchers are very close.
“Already we are on the cusp of bringing out new drugs that work against these side effects and if you put that together with an early diagnosis, you are looking at really managing the disease and giving people a good life,” said Dr. Langston. “Because those early symptoms are so mild, if you get in there and halt it at that point that’s almost as good as a cure.”
This, in part, is why finding the early indicators of the disease is so important. 
When he first started his association with 23andMe, he would get questions from those who wondered why you would want to know if you had a genetic risk for Parkinson’s.
“I hear that less and less I think because 23andMe is helping to change that,” he said. “People see value in it. Knowledge is power. The more you know and understand the more you can do.”
Beyond looking at genetics there are other early indicators. His team is looking at things like autonomic innervation of the heart and REM sleep patterns, or loss of the sense of smell as early indicators for the disease.
“It’s a major focus of the research to find the markers before you have any disability,” he said. “We’re hoping that 23andMe will be part of this effort to find the tools where we can pick this up.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-12363" title="Pritzker-photo" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pritzker-photo-254x300.jpg" alt="" width="254" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pritzker-photo-254x300.jpg 254w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pritzker-photo-768x906.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pritzker-photo-868x1024.jpg 868w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pritzker-photo-746x880.jpg 746w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pritzker-photo-1000x1180.jpg 1000w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pritzker-photo.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px" />
But of course, Dr. Langston isn’t satisfied with merely managing the symptoms of the disease; he’d like to cure it. Here, too, he is very optimistic saying what we are so much closer in understanding the underlying causes and pathways for the disease. We are seeing more and more the interrelationship between genetic and environmental factors in the disease, “this notion that your genetics loads the gun and the environment pulls the trigger,” said Dr. Langston.
But even in cases where genetics isn’t involved, genetics research provides great benefit, he said.
“It’s not at all unusual that a rare genetic form turns out to be hugely informative for the common sporadic form of the diseases – we’ve seen this with Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Langston. “ Each of these new genetic variants, some of which are incredibly rare, have led us to a new protein and that protein leads us to a pathway and that pathway is obviously leading to cell death and Parkinson’s.”
Langston said many of these pathways intersect with mitochondria, the energy packet of cells, and offer giant clues for research into sporadic forms of Parkinson’s.
He sees great promise for what is being done in 23andMe’s Parkinson’s Research Community.
“That is the future, it really is,” he said. “You’ve got the questionnaires and the genetics. I mean most people with PD can tell you if they or someone in their family smoke, but they can’t tell you their genetics. Nobody can unless they’re signed up with 23andMe. Maybe someday everybody will know that, but we’re not there yet. That would be very transformative.”

A Leader in Parkinson’s Research

Today’s post explains what “Sharing Genomes” means at 23andMe, describes several points to consider when sharing, and introduces some exciting new developments in sharing at 23andMe.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-7846 size-medium" title="snp-people" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/snp-people-300x226.png" alt="" width="300" height="226" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/snp-people-300x226.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/snp-people.png 608w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
23andMe has revolutionized how people think about DNA. What used to be hidden inside heavy textbooks can now be the subject of cocktail conversation. It’s not just because our unique <a href="https://www.23andme.com">Personal Genome Service</a> ® gives people a chance to explore their own DNA — it’s also because 23andMe represents the first genetics-based social network.
<h6>By “sharing” your genome with other 23andMe customers, you can trace shared ancestry, get a glimpse of the diversity in different people’s genetics, or simply brag about how you’re more Neanderthal than your friends. Through 23andMe you can share a little bit or a lot, or not at all &#8212; it’s up to you. 
 
What can I share at 23andMe?</h6>
<div style="width: 280px; background-color: #eee; border: 1px solid #ccc; margin-left: 15px; padding: 10px; float: right;">Currently, the option without Health reports is called “Basic” sharing on the site, and the option with Health reports is called “Extended” sharing. Within the next two weeks, we plan to relabel these options as follows:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Basic Sharing&#8221; will be &#8220;Sharing, without health reports&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Extended Sharing&#8221; will be &#8220;Sharing, with health reports&#8221;</li>
</ul>
We want everyone to understand how sharing works at 23andMe and these new labels more clearly describe the distinction between the two options.
</div>
At 23andMe, all customers have the option to share genetic results with others by “<a href="https://www.23andme.com/user/profile/sharing/">Sharing Genomes</a>.”
Sharing genomes always allows you to see each other’s results for ancestry features including Maternal and Paternal Lines, Ancestry Painting, and Global Similarity. You can also use the Compare Genes feature to see how genetically similar you are, and the Family Inheritance feature to see which segments of DNA you might share.
Optionally, you may also choose to see each other’s results for most Health reports.
Currently there is no way to directly view or download each other’s raw genetic data or results for Health reports that require an opt-in. These include BRCA Cancer Mutations (Selected), Parkinson’s Disease, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
<h6>What should I consider before sharing at 23andMe? 
</h6>
The vast majority of things we learn by sharing with others at 23andMe are interesting and positive experiences. For many customers, the ability to compare DNA with friends, close family, and distant cousins is one of the most useful and rewarding aspects of this service. 
However, there are some aspects of sharing that you should be aware of. Within two weeks, we plan to expand our descriptions of sharing throughout the site to address these aspects more fully.
First, some of the information that you directly share can be sensitive, including ancestral origins, family relationships, and health risks. Some people are very comfortable sharing this kind of information, some are not &#8212; it’s a personal choice, and the system allows you to be flexible.
Second, some features, like Compare Genes and Family Inheritance: Advanced, allow you to compare DNA between two people you’re sharing with. Similarly, your shares may compare your DNA with that of people they’re sharing with. This aspect of sharing allows customers to compare people to each other and opens up new genealogical vistas by allowing customers to find evidence of family relationships. These new-found family relationships can be unexpected and sometimes upsetting, but more often they are exciting pieces of a genealogical puzzle.
Third, there is some chance that someone you’re sharing with could learn something about you that you didn’t directly share. For example, if you and someone you’re sharing with have a matching segment of DNA that overlaps a health-associated gene, you might infer something about their genotype on the basis of your own, or vice versa. The one way to be absolutely sure that health information about you is not learned in this way is to abstain from sharing entirely. However, it takes substantial effort to learn things like this.
If you’re unsure, we recommend sharing with people you’re comfortable with. Sharing allows you to use more of the features on the website and adds a new dimension to what you can learn about yourself and your family. Many customers share openly with each other and have only benefited from the experience. As you learn more about genetics and develop a finer sense of the issues involved, you might begin to share more openly yourself.
<h6>New developments in sharing at 23andMe 
</h6>
Today we&#8217;d like to announce a few exciting sharing-related changes coming to some popular 23andMe Labs. Previously in <a href="https://www.23andme.com/you/labs/multi_ibd/">Family Inheritance: Advanced</a>, you could only run comparisons between your shares and close family members. Now, you’ll be able to compare any two of your shares. In Ancestry Finder, you&#8217;ll now be able to view the results for any of your shares.
These changes are expected to go into effect within the next two weeks. We are adding this time period to allow customers to absorb and adjust preferences in advance of the changes. If you’re not comfortable with these capabilities, sharing might not be for you. For others, we hope that these changes enhance your experience at 23andMe and speed genealogical research. Sharing and comparing makes your genetics that much more interesting, and we encourage everyone to share at whatever level they wish.
If you have questions or concerns you’d prefer not to post, please send them to sharing-feedback@23andme.com.

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