A very large genetic study of insomnia has identified hundreds of genes associated with the condition that is also linked to such things as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, as well as metabolic disorders.
The scientists who worked on the study suggest that the breadth of those links likely indicates that there are different genetic subtypes for the condition. It’s estimated that as many as<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28348990/"> 30 percent of adults</a> have insomnia, which is defined as an inability to fall asleep at least three times a week over several months.
<h6>Large Study </h6>
Published in the journal Nature Genetics the<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-022-01124-w"> study</a> included data from more than 2.3 million people, more than half a million of whom reported having insomnia and the remaining 1.8 million without the condition who were used in this research as controls. 
This study almost doubled the size of the previous largest genome-wide association <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/genetics-of-insomnia-more-similar-to-psychiatric-conditions-than-to-other-sleep-traits/">study on insomnia</a> that was conducted by some of the same scientists. Danielle Posthuma, a professor at Vrije University in Amsterdam, again led it at Vrije University in Amsterdam.
Posthuma and her co-authors explained in this paper that the current work suggests that &#8220;for extremely polygenic traits such as insomnia, increasing sample size does lead to an increase in detected (single nucleotide polymorphisms), loci, genes, and pathways, providing more confidence in existing and novel mechanisms.&#8221;
<h6>Many Genes Involved</h6>
At the same time, the additional data in this study did not improve the predictive power for insomnia. This is in part due to the highly polygenic nature of insomnia, meaning that there are many, many genetic variants associated with the condition that have yet to be identified. Insomnia is estimated to be the third most polygenic trait behind major depressive disorder and educational attainment, according to the researchers for this study.
The study identified 289 genes involved in insomnia, but that total still only explains about 10 percent of the heritability of the condition. Some of the genes associated with insomnia appeared linked to metabolic or psychiatric conditions.
Other studies indicate that about<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18979946/"> three-quarters of adults</a> with depression suffer from insomnia. 
23andMe does not have a genetic health report on insomnia, but it does have a collection of reports on such things as <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/deep-sleep/">Deep Sleep</a>, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/sleep-movement/">Sleep Movement</a>, and Wake Time in a “sleep hub” meant to look at how your genetics may play a role in the quality of your sleep.
You can read the full insomnia study in<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-022-01124-w"> Nature Genetics.</a>

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

New Genetic Study on Insomnia

In late 2020, 23andMe launched a genetic study of systemic sclerosis, a rare autoimmune disease that results in the hardening and thickening of the skin and other organs.
Within 18 months, we’ve met our goal of recruiting more than 1,500 individuals with systemic sclerosis to participate in this study. We did this through online recruitment and with help from a collaboration with the Scleroderma Research Foundation, and our drug discovery collaboration partner GSK, who provided funding and expertise. 
&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="210" height="210" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Scleroderma-Feed-Icon@3x.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28608" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Scleroderma-Feed-Icon@3x.png 210w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Scleroderma-Feed-Icon@3x-150x150.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Recruiting to Study the genetics of systemic sclerosis</h6>
Simply reaching our recruitment goal so quickly is an important milestone.
Like many rare diseases — defined as conditions that affect<a href="https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/about"> fewer than 200,000</a> individuals in the United States — there is currently no cure or effective treatment for systemic sclerosis. And like many rare diseases, the rarity of this condition makes it challenging for scientists to study. As with many of the more than 7,000 known rare diseases, it is often difficult to find enough people with a rare disease, or enough who are able to participate in research studies. Historically, research on these conditions has been limited and slow.
23andMe’s unique research model allows for online recruitment and participation, which makes it that much easier.
<h6>A snapshot of our research participants</h6>
While there is still much work to do, we want to mark this recruitment milestone. And as we close our recruitment and begin this next phase of the study, we’re sharing a little bit about those participating in our research.
In all, 1,594 people living with systemic sclerosis consented to participate in our research. Although we haven’t yet begun the study, we’ve begun to characterize the cohort of research participants and we’ve already learned a little bit from them.
The condition is more common among women; indeed, 95 percent of the participants in our study are female. We’ve learned that the median age of onset of symptoms among our participants is 35 for those with what’s called primary Raynaud’s phenomenon. For onset of other systemic sclerosis symptoms, the median age of onset is 38 among those participating in 23andMe’s study. 
Raynaud’s phenomenon is the most common symptom for those with systemic sclerosis.  It’s characterized by what’s called vasospasms or spasms of the blood vessels that are triggered by cold temperatures or stress. This can lead to discoloration of the fingers, numbness and pain. In some cases, it can also lead to ulcers on the fingers. (Just note that people who do not have systemic sclerosis can also develop Raynaud’s.)
&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="584" height="598" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sscl-Bar-Graph.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29978" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sscl-Bar-Graph.png 584w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sscl-Bar-Graph-293x300.png 293w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Most Common Symptoms</h6>
To give readers a sense of how difficult systemic sclerosis can be for those living with it, we&#8217;re sharing some of the most common symptoms reported by our participants.
Almost half of participants, 48 percent, have had sores or ulcers on their fingers. Another serious symptom is called “interstitial lung disease,” essentially scarring of the lungs, and 30 percent of participants reported having this. Lung scarring can make it harder to breathe and get oxygen into your bloodstream.
About 14 percent of participants reported having pulmonary arterial hypertension, or high blood pressure caused by restrictive blood flow in the lungs. Finally, about 3 percent of participants reported having one of the most serious complications from systemic sclerosis, renal crisis, which can lead to renal failure or congestive heart failure. 
<h6>Studying the Genetics of Systemic Sclerosis</h6>
As our researchers begin the hard work of this study, they continue to focus on the goal that this work will generate genetic insights for potential treatments.
This study will allow our researchers to study systemic sclerosis at scale and allow those living with this condition to participate in research that could provide invaluable insight that may lead researchers to a future treatment discoveries.
While we know that about 70 percent of rare diseases are genetic, there is so much we don’t know about these conditions. Only about 5 percent of all rare diseases have approved treatments. But by working to uncover new genetic insights to conditions like systemic sclerosis, we hope to add to the list of approved treatments to address this unmet need. 
With the additional consent of participants in the study, we plan  to share the data from this study with qualified researchers from academia or biotech labs through the Database of Genotype and Phenotypes (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gap/">dbGaP</a>). This  repository is sponsored by the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health (NIH)</a>. The NIH’s dbGaP archives and distributes data from studies investigating the relationship of genotype and phenotype in humans.

Recruitment Goal Met for Systemic Sclerosis Genetic Study

A new genetic study suggests drinking coffee during pregnancy does not negatively affect birthweight, nor does it increase the risk of a miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth.  
The<a href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ije/dyac121/6605011?login=false#358171832"> study</a>, by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia and the University of Oslo, counters the advice often given during pregnancy to avoid caffeine. That advice was based on observational studies that did not separate coffee drinking from the harmful effects of behaviors like smoking, drinking alcohol, or poor nutrition.  

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/coffee-beans-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26590" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/coffee-beans-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/coffee-beans-300x199.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/coffee-beans-768x511.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/coffee-beans-880x585.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/coffee-beans-1180x784.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/coffee-beans.jpg 1256w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Randomized Stidy</h6>
But in this study the researchers focused solely on the effects of drinking coffee. 
 They used data from several sources, including UK Biobank and from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research. Ideally, the researchers would have isolated the effects of drinking coffee by doing a randomized trial. This would have required recruiting a very large group of pregnant women and then requiring some to drink coffee, and the others would not be allowed to drink coffee. Then researchers would monitor the effect on their pregnancies. For several reasons, that study design is not feasible in this case. So instead, the researchers used Mendelian randomization to mimic a randomized trial. They did this by first looking at genetic variants associated with drinking coffee and then seeing if they also affect pregnancy outcomes.
Using this genetic analysis, the researchers found no causation between drinking coffee during pregnancy and pregnancy risks for miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. 
<h6>Moderation</h6>
At the same time, the study only looked at a handful of adverse pregnancy outcomes, leaving the possibility that drinking coffee could affect other aspects of a baby’s development.
“For that reason, we don’t recommend a high intake during pregnancy, but a low or moderate consumption of coffee,”<a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2022/06/genes-reveal-coffee-safe-during-pregnancy"> said Dr. Gunn-Helen Moen</a>, a lead researcher for the study.
This research used genetic data from the Coffee and Caffeine Genetics Consortium, the<a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/"> UK Biobank</a>, the<a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/"> Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children</a>, and customers from 23andMe who consented to participate in research.
The study was published in the<a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyac121"> International Journal of Epidemiology</a>.

New Study Suggests Coffee During Pregnancy May Be OK After All

A new genetic study may help those looking for ways to avert some of the troubling side effects of a common medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s is sometimes treated with medication that increases dopamine activity in the brain. In some patients, that triggers impulsivity, such as compulsive gambling, shopping, eating, or hyper-sexuality.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-7843" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartoon-pills-300x285.png" alt="" width="300" height="285" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartoon-pills-300x285.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cartoon-pills.png 478w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h2>Impulse Control Disorder </h2>
In a study published in the journal<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.51569"> Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology,</a> researchers have identified genetic variants in Parkinson’s patients at risk for that problem. Using genetic modeling could help identify patients who are more likely to develop impulse control disorder due to prescribed dopaminergic medications. 
Using machine learning and statistical techniques, the team was able to create a risk model to identify those at the highest risk. 
In the paper, the researchers suggest that this might ultimately be used to make it easier for physicians treating those with Parkinson’s disease to identify those who should be prescribed an alternative to medication that increases dopamine activity, like levodopa.
<h2>Risk Models for Drug Interactions</h2>
The study used data from about 5,700 individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Most of the data came from 23andMe Parkinson’s research participants who consented to participate, with the remainder coming from two other research cohorts, one at the University of Pennsylvania and the other at the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative. 
The research involved two major steps. The first looked at genetic variants associated with impulse control disorder in people with Parkinson’s. Once they identified these variants, researchers used machine learning and statistical techniques to create a risk model. This helped them identify individuals who were more likely to develop impulse control disorder if the prescribed medication affected the dopamine activity in their brains.
In evaluating the model, the researchers said it performed better than similar <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41397-021-00260-6">pharmacogenetic models</a> already used in prescribing anti-platelet drugs.
While dopaminergic drugs are very important and effective in treating motor control issues in Parkinson’s patients, impulse control disorder side effects are relatively common. In this study, n 20-30 percent of those treated with dopaminergic drugs experienced impulse control disorder.  
Applying this pharmacogenetic approach could be effective at identifying those individuals better served by using an alternative to dopaminergic medications. One of those alternatives is the drug levodopa, the researchers said.

Study On Side Effects of Parkinson’s Medication

Lemonaid Health, a 23andMe-owned telehealth platform, will offer access to prescriptions for ella®, an emergency contraceptive. ella®  has shown to be effective at preventing pregnancy when taken within 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected sex. It is not used to end or terminate a pregnancy. 
This will add to Lemonaid Health’s offerings for reproductive health care services, which include prescriptions for birth control. Access to information about one&#8217;s health and access to healthcare are at the core of both 23andMe and Lemonaid Health. Indeed, in its earliest iteration, Lemonaid Health started in the United States by offering direct access to birth control. 
The decision to add prescriptions for ella® comes as access to important family planning options in the United States is being restricted. Although 23andMe and Lemonaid Health have been considering adding new options for family planning for some time, the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade brings additional urgency for expanding access to reproductive health care services. 
ella® is an emergency contraception medication and should not be confused with <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill">medical or medicated abortion</a>, which involves two drugs — mifepristone and misoprostol — taken to end a pregnancy. 
(You can find more information about ella® by visiting:  https://www.ella-now.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-taking-ella/.) 
Patients in all 50 states and DC are currently eligible for this service through Lemonaid Health’s online doctor&#8217;s office and mail-order pharmacy after completing a consultation with a Lemonaid Health doctor or nurse practitioner. The total cost will be $75, which includes the consultation, and if appropriate, medication, and expedited shipping costs.
An eligible patient can be prescribed one pill with a two pill refill; customers who have been prescribed ella®  can return for subsequent prescriptions. The medication will be shipped the next business day via expedited mail.
Find out more <a href="https://www.lemonaidhealth.com/ella-morning-after-pill">here</a>.

Lemonaid Health Offers Access to Emergency Contraceptive

Midway through our interview, Curtis Midkiff, Director of Global Social Engagement at 23andMe, offers up an interesting analogy.
“Imagine that social media is a dinner party,” he says. “As a brand, you have access to the gathering, but you’re only a guest.”&nbsp;&nbsp;
“Brands need to read the room,” he continues. “They need to listen to the other attendees, and then participate in conversations where they can add value. Don&#8217;t chime in if there’s a conversation about something you’re not interested in — a book you haven’t read or a movie you’ve never seen.”
Speaking to Curtis is as fun as sitting next to him at an actual dinner party must be. He brims with creative energy and has an endless enthusiasm for discussing social media platforms he enjoys, platforms with untapped potential, and platforms to watch.&nbsp;
Throughout his career, he’s overseen social media for brands like Weber and Kroger, and now, 23andMe. He credits his professional success to “thinking big” and prioritizing content. As he explains it, “I’ve been around long enough to know that good content resonates. That’s my focus.”
The following is an edited excerpt of our conversation.
<h6>What happens during a typical workday at 23andMe?</h6>
A typical day right now involves heavy coordination with my team around strategy. What we&#8217;re trying to do right now is lay a foundation for the year ahead and the future of social engagement at 23andMe.
So we&#8217;re having a lot of conversations and doing a lot of strategy development to get us to a good point where we have everything in place that we’ll need for the long term.&nbsp;
I&#8217;m excited for the future of 23andMe, and I&#8217;m excited for what social is going to be. There&#8217;s a great foundation, and we&#8217;re just ready to build something unique. I want people to follow along for the ride and know that we&#8217;re working on something big.&nbsp;
<h6>What do you think the future of social media will look like?</h6>
The two things that have evolved the most in social media are brand storytelling and community development. Those two areas are the future of social media.&nbsp;
Initially, businesses used social media to post what they were doing and then what they wanted to promote. And, of course, they wanted to go viral. Those were the priorities.
And now I think people look at social media and social platforms as a place to have a conversation and build community. I think that&#8217;s the future of social &#8212; just really understanding brand storytelling and how to use different tools and platforms to tell your brand story in an entertaining and compelling way.
And another part of social media’s future is how you interact with the communities of people that engage with you – the ambassadors, influencers, and affiliates who are talking about your brand and are activated to advocate on your behalf on social channels.
<h6>What role does listening play in your social media strategy?</h6>
I consider social conversations to be the greatest unsolicited forum and focus group that’s out there. It’s people talking in an unsolicited, unbiased way.&nbsp;
By listening, you can understand what they think as it relates to your brand and some other factors that may influence the decisions necessary for them to interact with your brand.&nbsp;
It’s essential to understand how things in pop culture are being talked about &#8212; what are the trends that people are following, and who are they following? Who are they talking about?
Listening is the secret sauce. Because you can be outspent in social media by another brand who can put out flashier content or hire more influencers, but you shouldn&#8217;t get outworked. And the work is, how do you listen and get that information and bring that into the content development process and say, “here’s what folks are talking about; let&#8217;s try to intersect with that.”
<h6>Do you have a favorite social media platform?</h6>
You know, that&#8217;s a good question. I think for entertainment, it&#8217;s neck and neck between Instagram and TikTok because I think there&#8217;s so much rich content there that&#8217;s short-form and easily digestible. You can look up, and between reels and TikTok, you&#8217;ve lost an hour.
For business, I honestly think LinkedIn is the one platform that&#8217;s a sleeping giant for business. Because first and foremost, everybody&#8217;s there. And because it&#8217;s a professional network, people primarily use it to search for jobs which creates an audience that&#8217;s plugged in. So as a brand, you can tell all aspects of your story, and people are still interested.&nbsp;
<h6>It sounds like your role involves a lot of brainstorming and idea generation. What do you need to be creative?&nbsp;</h6>
The biggest thing I need – and I have it here – is the encouragement to think big. That’s how you must approach creative work.
You have to think big and think about ways to make an impression on people. Because you&#8217;re competing in a crowded space. You&#8217;re competing with that quirky influencer video and people sharing their trips. How do you think big and stand out so people will talk about your brand?
<h6>What should we know about you that doesn’t appear on your resume?&nbsp;</h6>
I’ve lived in most of the regions of the U.S. at some point in my life. I grew up in the Northwest, went to college in the South, spent quite a bit of time in the Northeast, and have recently lived in the Midwest.
I also have an amazing family: my wife and two little kids. My son is about to turn four, and my daughter is six. They&#8217;re my inspiration for everything and a great support system.&nbsp;
And I love 90s hip-hop music.&nbsp;
<h6>What advice would you offer to someone who’s feeling overwhelmed by the thought of being a content creator in the crowded social media landscape?</h6>
The most important thing I’ve learned is not to think you know everything. Even though I’ve been a social leader in different capacities at different companies for over 12 years, I’ve always benefited from the teams I’ve assembled. They keep me plugged into what’s going on.&nbsp;
I always look to my teams to see what&#8217;s trending and how people are approaching this – I lean on them. I also focus on great content. Because great content can resonate on any channel.
That’s my advice: ask questions, connect with your team, think big, and prioritize great content.&nbsp;

23andMe’s Director of Global Social Engagement

This week, we released a new report Powered by 23andMe Research on Anxiety for 23andMe+ Members.
Anxiety is a normal part of life and a natural reaction to stressful situations. But when anxiety doesn’t go away and becomes overwhelming or disruptive to daily life, it may be considered an anxiety disorder.
There are many different types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and phobias.
Anxiety disorders are very common. Up to three in 10 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in their lifetime, and females are almost twice as likely to experience anxiety as males.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-29930" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/range-box-1-1024x389.png" alt="" width="1024" height="389" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/range-box-1-1024x389.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/range-box-1-300x114.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/range-box-1-768x292.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/range-box-1-880x334.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/range-box-1.png 1076w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<h2>Understanding Anxiety</h2>
Researchers believe that genetics combine with other factors to influence how likely an individual is to develop an anxiety disorder.
Non-genetic factors that can increase the likelihood of experiencing an anxiety disorder include: a history of stress, trauma, or abuse; a family history of anxiety; female birth sex; other health conditions, including other mental health conditions; experiencing discrimination; certain medications; and problems with alcohol or drug use.  
<h2>One Part of the Story</h2>
Your genetic report result doesn’t mean that you will or will not experience an anxiety disorder.
This is because most of a person&#8217;s overall likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder is explained by factors not accounted for in this result, including both genetic and non-genetic factors other than those included in the result.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29931" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Contextualisation-Moodule.png" alt="" width="349" height="313" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Contextualisation-Moodule.png 349w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Contextualisation-Moodule-300x269.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px" />
If you have already been diagnosed with anxiety by a healthcare professional, this genetic result does not change that. It is important to work with your healthcare provider and continue any recommended management plan.
<h2>Symptoms of Anxiety</h2>
Everyone experiences anxiety differently, but there are some shared signs and symptoms. 
Physical signs include a pounding heart, hyperventilation, muscle tension, sweating, nausea, and difficulty sleeping. 
Many people also experience a sense of uneasiness, dread, or fear.
<h2>A New Report</h2>
Our new report is powered by data from people who have consented to participate in 23andMe research and uses machine learning techniques to estimate an individual’s likelihood of developing anxiety.
This estimate is made using a statistical model that includes more than 7,700 genetic markers and information on an individual’s ethnicity and birth sex. You can learn more about the science and methodology behind our new report in this <a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/23_21-PRSMethodology_May2020.pdf">white paper</a>. 
<h2>Managing and Treating Anxiety </h2>
Medication and counseling, or a combination of the two, are all ways to treat anxiety. 
In addition, many lifestyle habits may help manage symptoms. Regular exercise, stress-reduction or mindfulness techniques, and dietary changes like removing or reducing caffeine intake and limiting alcohol can reduce anxiety and help boost mood.
It’s also important to seek social support, especially during times of stress, such as significant life changes or losses.
<h2>Learn More</h2>
23andMe’s new Anxiety report (powered by 23andMe Research) is available to all annual members of the 23andMe+ Membership. To view your report, go <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.anxiety/">here</a>.
Not an annual member to the 23andMe+ Membership?
Find out more <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">here</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-29937" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Anxiety-Blog-1200x628-1-1024x536.png" alt="" width="1024" height="536" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Anxiety-Blog-1200x628-1-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Anxiety-Blog-1200x628-1-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Anxiety-Blog-1200x628-1-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Anxiety-Blog-1200x628-1-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Anxiety-Blog-1200x628-1-1180x618.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />

New 23andMe+ Report on Anxiety

For Patrick String, the transition from healthy 56-year-old man to seriously ill patient on life support happened almost instantaneously.
The day had started out simply enough. Patrick was at his home in New Jersey when he suddenly collapsed on the living room floor. His wife called an ambulance, and they rushed to the local hospital.
Scans revealed numerous blood clots in Patrick’s heart and lungs. He was immediately wheeled into the operating room to undergo an emergency thrombectomy — a surgery to remove the clots — and was put on life support.
<h6>Crucial Information</h6>
His physicians were baffled. They thought the clots might be the result of a COVID-19 infection, but the String family wasn’t so sure. 
“We didn’t feel like that was right in our heart of hearts,” Patrick’s daughter Samantha told <a href="https://www.insideedition.com/media/videos/mans-23andme-test-found-deficiency-that-helped-doctors-save-dads-life-75749">Inside Edition</a>. “We are vaccinated, we’re boosted, and we’d never really had a scare.”
It was then that Patrick’s son Andrew remembered the results of a recent 23andMe Health + Ancestry report. His report indicated that he had a genetic variant detected in the Factor II gene, which is linked to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/hereditary-thrombophilia/">hereditary thrombophilia</a> – a predisposition to developing harmful blood clots. 
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vuigAbZigKw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h6>A Family Risk for Blood Clots</h6>
Andrew shared his Hereditary Thrombophilia Genetic Health Risk Report* result with his father’s medical team. They concluded that his symptoms aligned and that this could be a potential cause, one that they weren’t originally thinking of, given such an extreme presentation. Armed with this potential lead, they were able to tailor Patrick&#8217;s treatment. Follow-up testing confirmed that Patrick had the same variant and the doctors agree it is the most likely cause.
Today, Patrick is in physical therapy and is making significant progress. 
“I’m getting better every day, for sure,” he said. “I’m going to physical therapy twice a week and taking a lot of medication every day. The recovery is where we expected it to be.” 
While his father continues to work on his recovery, Andrew is working to spread the word about Factor II and 23andMe.
“I tell all my friends about it,” he said. “I tell all my coworkers and people just walking down the street about it. He [my father] is a medical miracle.”
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*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 Hereditary Thrombophilia genetic health risk report is indicated for reporting of the Factor V Leiden variant in the F5 gene, and the Prothrombin G20210A variant in the F2 gene and describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing harmful blood clots. The variants included in this report are most common and best studied in people of European descent. These variants are also found in populations with European ancestry, like African Americans and Hispanics or Latinos. For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk report, click <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">here</a>.

A Son’s 23andMe Results Helps Father’s Medical Team

Ah, summer vacation. A chance to set your status to “out of office,” grab that book you’ve been meaning to finish, and set off on a new adventure.
But how – and where – should you spend your precious days off? To help you finalize your summer travel plans, we’ve compiled a list of destinations influenced by your DNA and backed by 23andMe research.
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast with a fear of heights or a beach lover who’s genetically predisposed to get a lot of mosquito bites, we have a destination that may pair well with your genes.

<h6> Summer Sans Bite</h6>
Summer marks the return of many simple pleasures – barbecues, beach trips, long days, warm nights, and time outside. But it also marks the return of a buzzing menace: the mosquito.
If you seem to have more itchy red welts on your ankles than the people around you, your DNA may play a role. 23andMe researchers found<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/itching-to-see-23andmes-new-trait-reports/"> 285 genetic variants</a> associated with mosquito bite frequency, size, and itchiness. These markers and other non-genetic factors such as birth sex may explain why mosquitoes find some people so attractive.
For the mosquito magnets among us, we recommend heading north to an urban location with cooler temperatures like Seattle, Washington. Seattle’s<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/why-are-there-so-few-mosquitos-seattle"> temperate climate</a> helps keep mosquito populations <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/Zika-mosquito-maps.pdf">in check</a> because there is less heat, humidity, and standing water that they need to survive and reproduce. With its lively art and food scene and proximity to Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, Seattle is buzzing in all the right ways.

<h6>Finding Balance</h6>
For those who suffer from<a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/motion-sickness/"> motion sickness</a>, the mere thought of a summer road trip may trigger a desire to stock up on motion sickness relief medicine.
Motion sickness may happen when there’s sensory conflict, or a mismatch between what your body feels is happening and what your eyes see. And genetics factor in, too. 23andMe researchers pinpointed<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/feeling-woozy-over-23andmes-new-report-on-motion-sickness/"> 413 genetic variants</a> that influence susceptibility to motion sickness. They also saw an<a href="https://academic.oup.com/hmg/article/24/9/2700/2385879?login=false"> association</a> between motion sickness and other conditions like migraines, morning sickness, and vertigo, which confirmed similar observations from previous researchers.
So this summer, ditch the car, skip the open road, and head to one of America’s most<a href="https://www.walkscore.com/NY/New_York"> walkable</a> metropolises: New York City. It’s a pedestrian’s paradise – museum exhibitions, Broadway shows, restaurants, lively neighborhoods, and shopping that can be easily reached on foot. No medication required.

<h6>Don’t Look Down</h6>
Does a precipice cause your heart to race? Does a mountain vista make your knees tremble?
A fear of heights is very common, affecting as many as <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-012-6685-1">one in three</a> people.
The distress may stem from a disruption in optical input and spatial orientation. While standing upright, the brain uses visual cues from surrounding objects to maintain balance. But this process can become muddled when standing at a high elevation relative to your surroundings.
There’s also a<a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/fear-of-heights/"> genetic component</a> at play. Scientists at 23andMe used statistical models and data from consented research participants to identify <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/itching-to-see-23andmes-new-trait-reports/">392 genetic markers</a> associated with a fear of heights.
<a href="https://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm">Biscayne National Park</a> offers an alternative to the high elevations and heart-stopping views that we usually associate with the National Park system. Biscayne is located off the southeast coast of Florida, the country’s flattest state, and features four different ecosystems that hover close to sea level. The park offers plenty of water activities and several<a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/florida/elliott-key-interpretive-loop"> low-elevation trails</a> that provide an awe-inspiring view of mangrove trees, sand bars, and turquoise water without that woozy, faint feeling.
Pack your bags; your DNA-tailored adventure awaits!

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