<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-8953 size-medium" title="MJS &quot;One in a Billion&quot;" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/MJS-One-in-a-Billion--285x300.jpg" alt="" width="285" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/MJS-One-in-a-Billion--285x300.jpg 285w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/MJS-One-in-a-Billion-.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 285px) 100vw, 285px" />
Kathleen Gallagher and Mark Johnson are good reporters but it didn’t take a lot to figure out that the tip they got was big news.
Doctors, Gallagher heard, had used genetic sequencing to crack the mystery behind an illness slowly robbing a young boy of his life.
“The tip that she had was that they had already sequenced a child’s genes and used it for a diagnosis,” Johnson told the <a title="Nieman Q and A" href="http://niemanstoryboard.us/2011/01/07/kathleen-gallagher-and-mark-johnson-on-a1-steak-sauce-a-4-year-old-boy-your-genetic-future/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nieman Storyboard in January</a>. Storyboard is a project of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard.
“I think she knew that they’d found a mutation, and it was something never seen before,” Johnson said.
The tip was the seed that grew into a riveting and moving <a title="One in a Billion" href="http://www.jsonline.com/features/health/111224104.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three-part series</a> in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The piece, which ran in December of last year, just won the <a title="Explanatory Reporting" href="http://www.pulitzer.org/biography/2011-Explanatory-Reporting">Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting</a>. Gallagher and Johnson shared the prize with photographer Gary Porter, videographer Allison Sherwood and graphic artist Lou Saldivar.
The work done by the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin pushed into new realms, turning to sequencing for answers to a young boy&#8217;s mysterious and life-threatening medical condition. The boy had severe bowel problems that included several abscesses, fistulas and deep fissures that were prone to infection. Now 6, he was first brought into the hospital when he was just 15 months. He underwent more than 100 surgeries by the time he was 3.
At first he was thought to have Crohn&#8217;s disease, but  years of treatment did little for his symptoms, which got worse. Eventually doctors decided to take a broad exome sequencing approach – where only the gene-coding regions of the genome are sequenced – in an attempt to diagnose and possibly treat his illness. Doctors and researchers painstakingly narrowed down the possible gene mutations responsible for his illness from 16,124 to just one. Now the boy is being treated to maintain his health after receiving a cord blood transplant that the doctors believe will address the damage cause by that single mutation.
Even before the piece was singled out by the Pulitzer committee, the series and the case of the small boy attracted attention from science <a title="Genetics in Medicine" href="http://journals.lww.com/geneticsinmedicine/Abstract/2011/03000/Making_a_definitive_diagnosis__Successful_clinical.15.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">journals</a>, <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/matthewherper/2011/01/05/the-first-child-saved-by-dna-sequencing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medical bloggers </a>and those tracking advances in personal genomics.
Luke Jostins helped put the science into context at the blog Genomes Unzipped. More recently over at <a title="Wired Science" href="https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/how-new-sequencing-technologies-are-unravelling-rare-genetic-diseases/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wired Science</a>, Daniel MacArthur detailed some other examples of sequencing technology being used to diagnose rare genetic disease.
<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/when-rare-is-not-rare-help-fight-rare-disease-today-and-everyday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Single-gene disorders are rare</a>, but collectively they affect as many as one in 10 people in the United States alone. This case offers a glimpse of how genetic medicine could benefit this underserved population, and Gallagher and Johbnson&#8217;s Pulitzer Prize-winning series makes the human impact of the science powerfully clear.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Pulitzer Prize for Sequencing Story

Invitation to Participate in New Research Project &#8212; Social Networking and Personal Genomics: Emerging Issues For Health Research
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-8861" title="social-network" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/social-network-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/social-network-300x225.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/social-network.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Do you share your information with others? How has your personal genetic information influenced your lifestyle and the way you approach your health and medical decisions? Can genetic information create new communities and connections?
As personal genetic information has become accessible to individuals outside of the framework of the healthcare system, very little about how this information impacts health-related decisions, attitudes towards personal privacy and the formation of communities is understood. In collaboration with 23andMe, Inc., Sandra Soo- Jin Lee, Ph. D, a Senior Research Scholar at Stanford University’s Center for Biomedical Ethics, is studying individual experiences with sharing personal genetic information with others and its potential impact on health behavior, research efforts and social identity.
The Social Networking and Personal Genomics Study at the Center for Biomedical Ethics invites participants between the ages of 18 and 75 to spend approximately 2 hours with us in a focus group setting. Participants must have purchased direct-to-consumer personal genetic information from 23andMe, Inc., shared their information with others, and be willing to discuss their perspectives and experiences. Focus group members will receive a $50 gift card for their participation and childcare will be available on an as-needed basis at no cost. For additional information or to enroll, please contact Simone Vernez, Project Manager, by email at <a href="mailto:svernez@stanford.edu">svernez@stanford.edu</a> or by telephone at (650) 723- 9364. For more information on the study itself, including specific research aims and funding please visit <a href="http://bioethics.stanford.edu/research/SocialNetworkingandPersonalGenomics.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://bioethics.stanford.edu/research/SocialNetworkingandPersonalGenomics.html</a>. For general information about participant rights, contact 1-866-680-2906.
NHGRI funded R01 Grant Project R01HG05086: Social Networking and Personal Genomics: Emerging Issues for Health Research (PI: Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Ph.D).

Call to Participate in a New Study on Social Networking and Personal Genomics

Whether you reach for a Starbuck’s Venti – the “Big Gulp” of coffee servings – or a wee size cup of Joe in the morning, or none at all, might be influenced by your genes.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-296 size-medium" title="cup-hand-bigfotocom" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cup-hand-bigfotocom-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cup-hand-bigfotocom-300x197.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cup-hand-bigfotocom-768x503.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cup-hand-bigfotocom-1024x671.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cup-hand-bigfotocom-880x576.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cup-hand-bigfotocom-1180x773.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cup-hand-bigfotocom.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Two recently published studies found an association between coffee and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/caffeine-consumption/">caffeine consumption</a> and SNP variants near the same two genes, CYP1A1 and AHR. One study looked at coffee consumption specifically; the other looked at all caffeine consumption including from tea, soda and chocolate, but coffee was by far the main source of caffeine for the participants.
Scientists from deCode Genetics in Iceland studied more than 10,000 coffee drinkers in European descent mainly in Europe. Their results published in  <a href="http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/02/27/hmg.ddr086.abstract" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Human Molecular Genetics</a> in February pinpointed two SNPs near the CYP1A1 and AHR genes. The variant near CYP1A1 had a fairly consistent effect. People with the variant were prone to drink about a quarter cup more of coffee a day, according to the study. (23andMe also looks at a variant that affects how quickly a person  metabolizes caffeine. )
The other study, which was published in <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1002033" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PLoS Biology</a> and included more than 47,000 individuals with European ancestry living in the U.S., made similar findings, noting that people with two copies of a variant near the AHR gene drank about a third of a cup of coffee more each day than those without any copies.
&#8220;Now, for the first time, we know specific genes that influence the amount of caffeine that individuals consume,&#8221; Dr. Neil Caporaso of the National Cancer Institute <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12992374" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told the BBC</a>. Caporaso, the co-author of study in the US, noted that while researchers know about associations between hundreds of genes and specific medical conditions, how those variants relate to dietary consumption is less well known.
Beyond that, both studies offer intriguing hints about how these two genes might interact, but more research is needed. In the meantime how people relate to their morning fix of java is well known, perhaps best summed up by Johann Sebastian Bach in his &#8220;Coffee Cantata:&#8221;
&#8220;How sweet the coffee tastes, more delicious than a thousand kisses . . . . Coffee, I must have coffee . . . . If I don&#8217;t get my three cups of coffee each day, I&#8217;ll shrivel up like a piece of roast goat.&#8221;

“Coffee, I Must Have Coffee…”

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<td><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-8845" style="padding-bottom: 15px;" title="PASD-2011" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PASD-2011-300x39.png" alt="" width="300" height="39" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PASD-2011-300x39.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PASD-2011.png 407w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></td>
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It’s easy to talk the talk for disease awareness, but now you can walk the walk &#8212; literally!
On April 16th, the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego (PASD) and the Parkinson’s Unity Walk (PUW) will be hosting two different walks on either side of the country. The goals of each walk are the same: to raise awareness and funding for Parkinson’s, a disease that affects approximately one million people in the United States. 23andMe shares similar goals and is proud to be participating in both events to promote our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parkinson’s research community</a>.
In San Diego, the PASD is holding a 5K “Walk and Fun Run” at Liberty Park in Point Loma. They anticipate 2,000 walkers this year, 500 of which have Parkinson’s disease (PD). This year’s walk will also feature a new program called “Paws for Parkinson’s” to highlight the importance of service dogs in the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease. For more information about this walk, visit the walk website.
Across the country on the East Coast, the Parkinson’s Unity Walk will be held in New York City’s Central Park. This event, now in its 16th year, is coordinated between seven different Parkinson’s organizations. Last year, the Unity Walk drew approximately 10,000 people and raised $1.5 million for PD research! For more information about the Unity Walk, visit their <a href="http://www.unitywalk.org/about.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>.
23andMe will be hosting booths at both walks to give out bookmarks and other goodies, to discuss our service and research efforts, and to enroll people with PD into our Parkinson’s research community.  23andMe testing kits will be available on-site, but if you’re not quite ready to get or use a kit,  there will also be discount cards you can take home to apply towards a kit online.
Whether you’re already a participant in our Parkinson’s community or not, we’d love to see you at one of the walks! You can tell us your story (we’ll be taking some video and photos), take home some free stuff, learn more about what we do, or just stop by to show your support.
To get a flavor of what these walks and 23andMe’s research efforts are all about, check out <a href="http://www.unitywalk.org/videoplay.php?vidid=2%20Interviews%201.mp4">this video on the Unity Walk website</a> (23andMe featured starting at minute 3:50).
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month! Learn more about this disease and how you can get involved.

Take a Hike… for Parkinson’s Awareness

<img decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-273" title="alzheimers" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/alzheimers.jpg" alt="" width="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/alzheimers.jpg 338w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/alzheimers-300x186.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" />
Results published this week in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ng/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature Genetics</a> identified five more genes associated with risk of developing Alzheimer’s, doubling the total number of genes known to be linked to the devastating disease. The two studies – <a href="https://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ng.803.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one led by Paul Hollingworth and Julie Williams</a> in Europe and the <a href="https://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ng.801.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other by the Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium</a> in the U.S. – analyzed DNA from more than 50,000 people of European ancestry. Altogether, the researchers identified five new genetic variants located near the ABCA7, MS4A4A, EPHA1, CD33, and CD2AP genes, which are each associated with a 10-15% increase or decrease in the odds of Alzheimer&#8217;s.
While the effects of these genetic variants may not be strong, their discovery offers additional clues about the biological underpinnings of the disease. Combined with previous studies (see Blog posts <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/snpwatch-large-study-identifies-two-more-genetic-variants-associated-with-alzheimers-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and  <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/snpwatch-largest-alzheimers-genetic-studies-to-date-identify-three-new-susceptibility-genes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>), the genes implicated suggest that biological pathways involved in the immune system and in the transport of cholesterol-related molecules may be important in the development of the disease.
As reported in the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/health/04alzheimer.html?_r=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Times</a> on Sunday, one of the new studies&#8217; authors, Dr. Richard Mayeux, said the findings would help “open up the field.”
Although the studies published this week help fill in some gaps in our understanding of <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/late-onset-alzheimers/">gene testing for Alzheimer’s</a>, the risks associated with the newly identified variants are still dwarfed by the risk associated with the well-established e4 variant of the APOE gene.
If a person inherits the APOE e4 variant from one parent, his or her risk is two to four times higher than the average person&#8217;s. If that person inherits it from both parents the risk rises to more than 10 times greater than average. But as with all complex, multi-factorial conditions such as Alzheimer&#8217;s, the presence of a variant does not mean a person will definitely develop the disease.
Currently more than <a href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5.4 million</a> Americans have Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that this year alone the cost of the disease will top $183 billion.

Studies Identify Five More Genetic Variants Associated with Alzheimer’s

<img decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-8732" title="DNA-chains" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/23andMe_Logo_blog.jpg" alt="" width="300" />
On March 8th, the FDA convened a two-day advisory panel meeting to discuss questions related to direct-to-consumer genetic tests. The questions focused on the benefits and risks of providing consumers with direct access to these tests, potential strategies for communication and education to mitigate any risks, and regulatory standards for ensuring that the tests are accurate and reliable. As one of the leading companies in this area, we felt it was important to outline our perspectives and broad requests on these topics, and were pleased to see many other companies from the industry join us in expressing similar views. Updated meeting materials are now available  on the FDA website, and both presentations that 23andMe gave at this meeting are available <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-presents-at-fda-advisory-panel-meeting-on-direct-to-consumer-genetic-tests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
In the several years since the direct-to-consumer genetic testing industry made its debut, it has seen all manner of reaction. Many are fascinated by our newfound ability to peek into our genomes, to add another source of data to the ones we already collect, and to leverage it to know more about our connections to the world, whether that be literally through known and predicted relatives or through the relationship between genetics and our health and traits. Others may not be interested or may not want to know what their genetics might tell them.  But some feel that all genetic tests and/or their interpretations should be available only through a physician.
For our part, 23andMe was founded on the belief that individuals have a right to access their own genetic information, and this conviction is still as firmly held as ever.
While the debate is clearly no longer academic &#8212; many more people are aware of and using these tests and the FDA is taking an active role in learning about and devising guidelines for this industry as a result &#8212; it is clear that challenges remain. Some observers fear that the panel’s recommendations will severely curtail direct access to genetic testing, but we agree with <a href="http://www.genomicslawreport.com/index.php/2011/03/11/the-fda-and-dtc-genetic-testing-setting-the-record-straight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dan Vorhaus</a> of Genomics Law Report that the FDA will take a reasoned approach to integrating the feedback it received from its panel with other information pertinent to the issue.
The advisory panel meeting was in many ways a microcosm of the ongoing debate, with one exception. Although the panel had an individual representing the consumer and the patient, the panel did not have the opportunity to hear directly from consumers and others who have first-hand experience with the information provided by direct-access genetic testing services.
Fortunately, there are many channels through which you can make your voices heard. The FDA has reopened the public docket on this topic for the submission of additional comments (until May 2, 2011) and we strongly encourage those of you with an opinion or perspective on the questions posed by the FDA regarding DTC genetic tests to send in a comment. Regardless of the content of those comments, we believe that a larger number and a wider variety of comments will be beneficial for helping the FDA to guide its regulatory policies in this area.
<ul>
<li>Electronic comments can be submitted at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.regulations.gov/</a>, referencing docket ID FDA-2011-N-0066.</li>
<li>Written comments, referencing docket ID FDA-2011-N-0066 in the header, can be sent to: 
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305) 
Food and Drug Administration 
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061 
Rockville, MD 20852</li>
</ul>
You can also post comments to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FDA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FDA Facebook page</a>, or attend one of several FDA (Center for Devices and Radiological Health, or CDRH) town hall meetings. The next town hall meeting will be held in May in Orlando, FL, and there is also one planned for San Francisco at a place and time to be announced.
Finally, it may be helpful to make your congressional representatives aware of your views on this issue. You may contact members of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Energy_and_Commerce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Committee on Energy and Commerce</a>, or find contact information online for your own House representative or <a href="http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senator</a>.

DTC Genetic Tests and the Future of Regulation: Make Your Voices Heard

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-8774" title="cell-culture_petri-dish" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/cell-culture_petri-dish-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/cell-culture_petri-dish-300x199.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/cell-culture_petri-dish.jpg 425w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Parkinson&#8217;s disease (PD) is a relatively rare but devastating condition affecting 1-2% of Americans. Although some risk factors are known &#8212; including genetic variants that predispose to the condition &#8212; its exact causes and mechanisms remain a mystery, and development of treatments has been slow.
<h2>Parkinson&#8217;s Research Community</h2>
23andMe chose to focus on <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parkinson&#8217;s disease</a> for our first disease research community and we&#8217;ve made great strides in the two years since it launched. Our Parkinson&#8217;s research initiative was also featured in a Wired article last summer called &#8220;Sergey&#8217;s Search,&#8221; referring to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
Sergey&#8217;s mother, Genia Brin, suffers from Parkinson&#8217;s disease and learned from 23andMe that she carries two copies of the Parkinson&#8217;s-associated LRRK2 G2019S genetic variant. Sergey carries one copy of the variant. The knowledge has prompted them to take a more active role in research, including a breakthrough study published this month in <a href="http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909(11)00014-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cell: Stem Cell</a> in which Genia Brin played a crucial part.
<h2>Skin Cells</h2>
With skin cells from Brin, scientists led by Renee Reijo Pera at Stanford University and William Langston at the nearby Parkinson&#8217;s Institute were able to generate the first human Parkinson&#8217;s cell line that exhibits features of the disease in the petri dish. They  first turned the skin cells into a type of stem cell (induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs) and then transformed those stem cells into dopaminergic neurons, the same kind of neurons affected in people with PD.
Incredibly, these derived neurons quickly started showing signs indicative of Parkinson&#8217;s in the lab, including the accumulation of certain telltale proteins.  The scientists believe that the stress of being in a petri dish for several months induced the neurons to behave more like neurons exposed to decades of environmental stress. They also observed that the neurons were more susceptible to hydrogen peroxide damage compared to other cell types.
<h2>PD Cell Line</h2>
Their findings represent a major step forward for PD research. The researchers can conduct further experiments on the new PD cell line to see what other factors contribute to PD-like symptoms and whether specific interventions have beneficial effects. Their observation that the PD neurons are especially sensitive to harmful reactive chemicals like hydrogen peroxide is also an important jumping off point for investigating potential treatments.
Genia Brin herself was impressed with what the scientists were able to accomplish with her cells.
&#8220;It is a bad disease and its biological basis is little understood. Research has been pretty slow,&#8221; she said in statements to the <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17708879?nclick_check=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">San Jose Mercury News</a>. &#8220;I was hoping they would learn something from it, and they did. &#8230; Now they can experiment with [my cells].&#8221;
Read more about the study in the <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17708879" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">San Jose Mercury News</a> and <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110303132308.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ScienceDaily</a>.
Did you know? April is Parkinson&#8217;s Disease Awareness Month. Check the Blog for more articles on Parkinson&#8217;s Disease over the next few weeks, and learn more about how you can get involved!

Breakthrough with Parkinson’s in a Petri Dish

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-8691" style="padding-right: 15px;" title="lady_at_computer" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/lady_at_computer.png" alt="" width="130" height="165" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-8692" style="margin-bottom: 35px;" title="lightbulb" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/lightbulb.png" alt="" width="150" height="124" />
At 23andMe, we are committed to advancing understanding of human health and disease, and to giving everyone an opportunity to participate in scientific research that is meaningful for them. We launched our first research community focused on Parkinson&#8217;s disease in 2009 with those goals in mind. Less than two years later, we&#8217;ve already made amazing progress, having enrolled nearly 5,000 people with Parkinson&#8217;s (including one of the world&#8217;s largest databases of rare LRRK2 carriers) and gathered 40,000 data points about their experiences with the disease. With this initial data set, we&#8217;ve not only replicated existing genetic associations with Parkinson&#8217;s, but have also discovered two novel genetic markers associated with the condition which may further our understanding of the causes and point to potential avenues for treatment.
One of the most encouraging aspects of this community-based effort is the speed with which we&#8217;ve been able to grow the community and make these discoveries. Traditional disease cohort recruitment and data collection is time-consuming, and sometimes decades can pass after the first study participant is enrolled until findings are published. Our unique web-based research platform significantly accelerates this timeline, and we have already submitted a manuscript for peer review describing our first findings.
To learn more about 23andMe&#8217;s research efforts, visit our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/pd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parkinson&#8217;s</a>, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/sarcoma" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sarcoma</a>, and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/research" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">23andWe</a> research pages.

An Update On Our Parkinson’s Research Community

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-8653 size-medium" title="kidneys" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/a-300x223.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="223" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/a-300x223.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/a.jpg 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
This month, take a few minutes to appreciate your kidneys. These workhorses filter wastes, toxins and excess fluids from the blood, regulate the balance of ions and other chemicals in your body, and release hormones important for blood production, blood pressure regulation, and calcium balance.
Given all that they have to do, it&#8217;s no surprise that damage to the kidneys can cause serious problems. Sudden damage can result in acute kidney failure but more commonly the damage accumulates over time and leads to a gradual decrease in the kidneys&#8217; ability to do their many jobs. This type of damage is known as chronic kidney disease, and the later stages can cause complications such as heart disease, anemia, and nerve damage. End-stage kidney disease is defined by kidney failure and requires either lifelong dialysis &#8212; where a person&#8217;s blood is pumped through a machine that acts like an artificial kidney &#8212; or a kidney transplant.
During this month, 23andMe will be adding new reports and associations on <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/polycystic-kidney-disease/">kidney disease</a> to help our customers become better informed about these conditions. This week, we released a new Established Research report on Chronic Kidney Disease and updated our Preliminary Research report on Kidney Disease to include more preliminary findings for chronic kidney disease as well as new findings for a less common kidney condition known as idiopathic membranous nephropathy. In the coming weeks, also look for an update to our report on Type 2 Diabetes (a major cause of kidney disease) and a new report on kidney stones.
Fortunately, many of the things that keep kidneys healthy are things that keep the rest of you healthy as well. These things include maintaining healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels, being physically active, limiting sodium intake, and eating a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you should also talk to your doctor about getting screened regularly, as these conditions increase your risk for kidney disease.
Check out these resources for learning more about your kidneys and kidney disease:
<ul>
<li>National Kidney Disease Education Program &#8211; <a href="http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/kidneymonth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 things you can do to protect your kidneys</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KidneyDiseaseAwareness" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kidney Disease Awareness</a> on Facebook</li>
<li>National Kidney Foundation &#8211; <a href="http://www.kidney.org/kidneydisease/ckd/index.cfm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chronic kidney disease</a></li>
</ul>

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