Father’s Day has a little more significance this year for Rick, a 53-year-old real estate agent in Key West.
Thanks to 23andMe, the lifelong bachelor learned late last year that he had a daughter, Baylee, a 32-year-old mother of two young girls.
“I am a dad and grandfather and no one had any idea,” Rick said.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_1735-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-29812" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_1735-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_1735-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_1735-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_1735-880x660.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_1735-1180x885.jpeg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6>No One Else Would Know</h6>
Baylee was conceived when Rick was 19 and her mom was 18. It’d been a brief encounter. Baylee’s mom thought the father was someone else. Rick had moved away for work and had no idea. He never had any other contact with Baylee’s mom. He’s still a little stunned, and yet thankful. It had all happened so fast. In early October of 2021, Rick received an unexpected message from a stranger, Baylee. They then exchanged texts about her 23andMe results, and Baylee asked Rick a few questions he thought were odd. But just as Rick was getting ready to delete the whole exchange, she mentioned a few things “no one else would know.”
<h6>This is Your Daughter</h6>
Instead of ending the conversation, they continued it the next day. First through social media channels and then a phone call. Beyond some of the details and dates, there were photos, including one in particular showing Baylee as a young girl sleeping with her mouth open. It looked almost exactly like a photo Rick had of himself at that same age, sleeping.
The photo gave him goosebumps. “It could have been me,” he said.
Rick’s mother was pretty sure this was indeed his daughter. So was he, but he wanted to be sure, so he and Baylee took a paternity test.
A few days later he got a call.
“This is your daughter,” Baylee said.
<h6>Live Changing</h6>
For Baylee it was equally unexpected. When she used 23andMe, her interest was in learning more about her health.
“This experience has been a life-changing one for me,” she said.
She hadn’t been looking for family. She’d grown up thinking her biological father was someone else, but that man didn’t want anything to do with her, she said. Her mom had met another man, named Carl, and married him. Carl raised her since she was a toddler and she thinks of him as her dad, but at the same time she felt like the black sheep in the family.
<div id="attachment_29813" style="width: 285px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29813" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_3038-169x300.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="489" class="wp-image-29813" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_3038-169x300.jpg 169w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_3038-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_3038-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_3038-495x880.jpg 495w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_3038-664x1180.jpg 664w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_3038.jpg 1152w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" />Father and daughter for the first time during their meeting in Seattle. </div>
“I have always felt so different from my family like I was the odd sibling out, I looked different, I acted differently and the way I love is different,” Baylee said. 
<h6>Get with the Program</h6>
After connecting on the phone with Baylee, Rick suddenly felt it all sink in. He had a daughter and the emotion welled up in him and he started to cry.
Rick had a full life. He was happy. But this was something different.
“You know, I’ve been a bachelor all my life,” he said.
It wasn’t just that. He was an only child and grew up without contact with his own biological father. And then while all around him his friends got married and started families of their own, he was on the sidelines.
“They were all ‘get with the program Rick,’” he said.
He was good with kids, kind of the fun adult who liked to play and be silly with his friends’ children. But he never settled down. Little did he know he’d been a father all along.
“For a while, I partied maybe more than I should have but I’m 14 years sober now,” he said. “And I think maybe whatever greater power that’s out there was waiting for the right time for both of us. I don’t know if I’d been ready if this had happened earlier in my life. I’m not sure how I would’ve handled it if I was still drinking.”
&nbsp;
[vc_video link=&#8221;https://youtube.com/shorts/_q-QLz534zQ?feature=share&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221;]
<h6>Accepted and Loved</h6>
But he also wanted to make up for the lost time. Almost immediately he arranged to visit Baylee, and flew to Seattle to meet in person.
“Being called ‘dad’ affected me to my core, and to see someone look like me after having no brothers or sisters or kids, it was a lot,” he said.
Hugging and seeing her in person for the first time was one of the happiest moments of his life but also uncanny. Baylee’s husband, who is in the Army, started noticing how the two shared different traits and mannerisms, from the way they smiled to the way they both got “<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/hangry-like-the-wolf/">hangry</a>” if they were hungry, or couldn’t take it if they could hear someone chewing. (It’s a thing, called “<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/something-to-chew-on/">misophonia</a>,’ and it has a<a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/misophonia/"> genetic component</a>.)
Rick also felt protective of Baylee. For one, he related to the need she’d had to connect with her birth father because he’d tried when he was younger to connect with his birth father and they spoke on the phone twice, but his birth father never reciprocated. Rick just let it go and they never spoke again. He knows how it feels not to find a connection with a birth parent. He also knew that Baylee, who was a good mom to her young daughters, struggled with some health issues. That was one of the reasons she’d used 23andMe in the first place. She was trying to learn more about her health.
“Baylee is a strong lady but she wanted to meet her daddy and feel loved and accepted,” Rick said. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rick-and-Baylee-3-1-300x168.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="168" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-29816" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rick-and-Baylee-3-1-300x168.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rick-and-Baylee-3-1-768x431.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rick-and-Baylee-3-1-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rick-and-Baylee-3-1-880x494.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rick-and-Baylee-3-1.jpg 1125w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6>Blessed</h6>
Rick’s visit helped Baylee suddenly understand a little bit more about herself.
“After meeting Rick I found out where I get a lot of my personality from,” she said.
He was able to spend time with her and her husband Josh and their daughters Nevaeh and Jurnee. It was as if it was meant to be.
“We all took to him well and felt like this wasn&#8217;t the first-time meeting,” Baylee said. “It felt so natural for myself and my daughters.
In December of 2021, Baylee went to visit Rick in Key West, getting an opportunity to met his family, now her family, for the first time.
“It was wonderful and I was filled with love and acceptance,” Baylee said. “I must say how lucky am I too have gained so much love and family.”
And she struggles a bit to describe everything she’s feeling.
“It’s hard to say much about this experience because there are so many different kinds of emotions and feelings,” Baylee said. “But the word that come to my mind is “blessed.”
<h6>Best Gift Ever</h6>
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 275px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">What’s Your Story?
<p style="margin-top: 0in; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Like our DNA, our stories connect us. They can also inspire, entertain and empower us. Thousands of 23andMe customers have already shared their stories with us. 
<p style="margin-top: 0in; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">If you have a story to share, we would love to hear it. Just click right <a href="https://www.23andme.com/stories/#form">here to shar</a>e.
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Rick wanted to give Baylee the kind of acceptance and love she deserved.
When Baylee traveled to Key West, they built upon that first meeting, understanding that none of this is automatic. Building a true family relationship will take time, something both of them want to do.
For Rick, learning he was a father, and grandfather and then meeting and building that relationship has been a gift.
“I had life challenges but I got sober and I’m grateful for all that. I had a blessed life, and then to be given family,” he said. “It felt like hitting the lottery. Now I know what it’s like when people say ‘my heart is full.’”
Happy Father’s Day, Rick! We&#8217;ve been watching this video of you two hugging for the first time over and over again.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Best Father’s Day Gift Ever

In the interest of clarity and transparency, 23andMe has made some improvements to its <a href="https://www.23andme.com/legal/privacy/">Privacy pages</a>. We’re really excited to share the details of the changes in the Privacy Statement in particular. 
We’ve simplified the language within our Privacy Statement, Terms of Service, and other legal documents with the goal of making them easier to understand and more accessible. 
These improvements don’t change the substance of our Privacy Statement (or Terms of Service); instead, they simplify how we communicate the ways in which your data is stored, used, and protected at 23andMe, or how you can use the Services. We encourage you to take a look, but below is a short overview of some highlights.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="524" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-1024x524.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29797" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-1024x524.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-300x154.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-768x393.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-880x451.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide-1180x604.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Privacy-Feature-Image-Wide.jpg 1562w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>What You’ll Find</h6>
The new Privacy Statement <a href="https://www.23andme.com/privacy/">landing page</a> offers a hub from which it is easy to quickly find and navigate to specific areas of privacy, whether you want to learn how 23andMe handles <a href="https://www.23andme.com/about/cookies/">cookies</a> or <a href="https://www.23andme.com/about/biobanking/">biobanking</a>, or how we comply with <a href="https://www.23andme.com/about/california-privacy/">California consumer privacy laws</a>.
The Privacy pages also highlight some of the privacy-related choices a customer can make and what each of those choices means. For example, we explain what choices you have regarding the storage of your biological sample, participation in features like DNA Relatives, or participation in 23andMe’s groundbreaking Research program.
Those decisions are all up to the customer (you!). That’s because transparency and choice are the cornerstones of our privacy commitment to you.
<h6>Going Long or Going Deep</h6>
Some of us want to spend a long time and read through everything, while others just want the highlights. These new pages honor both of those choices.
Each section has a short and clear overview and, where relevant, links to full policies or documents that contain more detail. We’ve also broken up the topics in the left-hand navigation bar into subjects we believe customers care most about, such as the types of data we collect, who we share it with, or what it means to consent to Research. 
And each page is designed to make it visually easier to find things, including noting where to go to change your privacy settings or delete your account entirely if that’s what you want to do.
&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="380" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Two-Factor-Privacy-Settings-e1654527633530-1024x380.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29798" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Two-Factor-Privacy-Settings-e1654527633530-1024x380.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Two-Factor-Privacy-Settings-e1654527633530-300x111.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Two-Factor-Privacy-Settings-e1654527633530-768x285.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Two-Factor-Privacy-Settings-e1654527633530-880x327.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Two-Factor-Privacy-Settings-e1654527633530-1180x438.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Two-Factor-Privacy-Settings-e1654527633530.jpg 1556w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Defining Certain Words</h6>
Simplifying language is important and we did a lot of that in creating these new pages, but some privacy-related terms are still not words we use every day.
That’s why we’ve added explanations about different terms with visuals.
So, when we mention “Personal Information,” we explain what it means in the context of privacy. Personal Information refers to data that personally identifies you. And we explain the difference between “individual-level data” versus “de-identified data” in writing and visuals. We also explain what  “aggregate information” means in the same way. 
<h6>Part of Our DNA</h6>
At 23andMe, privacy is in our DNA. It’s part of everything we do. These updates are meant to make it easier to understand and learn about how we protect and secure our customers&#8217; data every day.
Find out more <a href="https://www.23andme.com/privacy/">here</a>.

An image of a lock a computer, DNA and a mobile phone representing security protections.

Privacy Simplified

By Jey McCreight, Ph.D.
I keep hoping for the right moment to write this Pride 2022 blog post—the moment when the news isn’t all about another piece of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, systematic efforts to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, or even attacks on my very right to exist. Because I do exist, and gay and trans people like me have existed throughout recorded history. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29799 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1080x1080-Pride-Month-1-e1654117746196.png" alt="" width="842" height="839" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1080x1080-Pride-Month-1-e1654117746196.png 842w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1080x1080-Pride-Month-1-e1654117746196-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1080x1080-Pride-Month-1-e1654117746196-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1080x1080-Pride-Month-1-e1654117746196-768x765.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1080x1080-Pride-Month-1-e1654117746196-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1080x1080-Pride-Month-1-e1654117746196-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px" />
But I’ve realized something. The right moment will not come anytime soon.
<h6>Under Attack</h6>
The LGBTQ+ community is under attack in a way many of us have never experienced in our lifetimes, and others hoped they would never see again. We are witnessing a systematic effort to roll back LGBTQ+ rights to a time where teachers could be fired for being gay and “conversion therapy” wasn’t recognized for the abuse it is. What we are watching unfold is a campaign to stop LGBTQ+ people from existing.
This is not only obviously morally wrong, but is literally impossible scientifically. LGBTQ people are a natural part of human diversity. Regardless of how many laws strip away our rights, queer people will continue to be born. We have existed throughout human history and will continue to exist.
What will change is how we exist. And here at 23andMe — where we celebrate the diversity of humankind — we believe that existence deserves to be healthy and happy, just like everyone else on this planet. As a health company, we cannot stay silent while a torrential downpour of anti-LGBTQ+ hatred hurts people both physically and emotionally.
<h6>Support</h6>
23andMe unequivocally supports our LGBTQ+ employees, customers, family, and friends. They deserve access to proper health care, including gender-affirming care. They deserve the ability to bring their whole selves to work, school, and the world without hiding their true selves. They deserve to use the bathroom without fearing physical assault. They deserve to feel safe and loved.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29800 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/v-1-e1654117691902.png" alt="" width="977" height="801" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/v-1-e1654117691902.png 977w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/v-1-e1654117691902-300x246.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/v-1-e1654117691902-768x630.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/v-1-e1654117691902-880x721.png 880w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px" />
We understand that we have room to improve as well, especially around trans-inclusive language in our reports. We have heard your feedback and are actively working on improvements. Please continue <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/requests/new">providing feedback</a> and holding us accountable, because change happens with your help.
We hope that you’ll join us in taking action to support LGBTQ+ rights and health. Please look up what <a href="https://www.aclu.org/legislation-affecting-lgbtq-rights-across-country">anti-LGBTQ legislation is happening in your state</a>, contact your representatives, and <a href="https://vote.gov/">vote</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Protect LGBTQ+ Rights and Health

Limia Ravart remembers the 23andMe message that changed her life.
“Hi. My name is Hannah Raleigh, and apparently I am your biological sister,” it began. “I have been thinking about messaging you for a few days now and I have just come up with enough courage to do it.”
“I was in shock,” Limia said. “Really in shock. I couldn&#8217;t sleep like all night after the email.”

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="970" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.40-PM-970x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29826" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.40-PM-970x1024.png 970w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.40-PM-284x300.png 284w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.40-PM-768x811.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.40-PM-833x880.png 833w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.40-PM-1118x1180.png 1118w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.40-PM.png 1216w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px" /></figure>
 
 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="974" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.47-PM-974x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29825" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.47-PM-974x1024.png 974w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.47-PM-285x300.png 285w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.47-PM-768x807.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.47-PM-837x880.png 837w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.47-PM-1122x1180.png 1122w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-01-at-4.53.47-PM.png 1206w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 974px) 100vw, 974px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Growing up apart</h6>
 The two sisters were adopted from China when they were infants by two separate, loving families. Limia, who is 25, was raised in Quebec, Canada. Hannah, 20, grew up in Chicago, Illinois.
 After connecting online, they’ve built a relationship through weekly video calls.  
 They’ve also discovered some uncanny similarities – from their style preferences and academic interests to their taste in men and late-night snacks.
 “Our go-to midnight snack isn&#8217;t like, ice cream. It&#8217;s popcorn or chips,” Hannah explained. 

<h6>Together at last</h6>
 Limia and Hannah finally had the chance to meet in person live on <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/adopted-sisters-meet-1st-time-lifetime-moment-gma/story?id=84962939">Good Morning America</a>. When they laid eyes on each other, they immediately embraced.
“It’s a special occasion,” Limia exclaimed.
What’s next for the reunited pair? Making up for lost time. They’re planning a trip to Montreal and even have plans to get matching tattoos. “We have so much to discover from our past stories,” Limia said. “We have so much to talk about.”

Better Together: Sisters Meet for the First Time

23andMe updated its report on an inherited condition characterized by mild to profound hearing loss.
The update to 23andMe’s Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Deafness, DFNB1 (GJB2-Related) Carrier Status report* adds six variants that improve the coverage of the test for people with East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian ancestry. 
&#8220;We are extremely excited about this report update, which allows us to provide new and meaningful genetic information to tens of thousands of our customers,&#8221; said 23andMe Product Scientist Ruth Tennen. &#8220;This is one step forward in our efforts to make our health reports more equitable, and to work toward a future in which people of all ancestries can access, understand, and benefit from the human genome.&#8221;<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27848" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/inner_ear-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/inner_ear-300x199.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/inner_ear.jpg 425w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The drive behind this update was to add variants that would make the report more relevant to people of diverse ancestries. Because being a carrier for DFNB1 is quite common in people of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent, we prioritized adding variants that are commonly found in those populations. With the addition of the new variants, up to 15 percent of our East Asian and Southeast Asian customers will receive an update indicating that they have a variant detected. More than 1 percent of our South Asian customers will receive a similar update. In total, more than 100,000 Health + Ancestry Service customers across all ancestries will receive an updated report with a new variant detected.
<h6>What is DFNB1?</h6>
This form of nonsyndromic hearing loss and deafness, or DFNB1, is characterized by mild to profound hearing loss that is typically present from birth.<a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> The condition is caused by variants in a gene called <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/gjb2/">GJB2</a>, which contains instructions for making a protein that helps transport potassium ions and other molecules between cells. Because proper movement of potassium ions in the inner ear is needed for the brain to process sound, variants that disrupt the function of the GJB2 gene can cause hearing loss.
The condition is <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/inheritance/inheritancepatterns/">autosomal recessive</a>, which means that a person must inherit two GJB2 variants — one from their mom and one from their dad — in order to have the condition. People with just one GJB2 variant are called carriers. They’re not expected to have the condition themselves, but they could pass their variant on to their future children. If two carriers have children, there&#8217;s a 25 percent chance that each child may have DFNB1. DFNB1 is the most common form of autosomal recessive <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/nonsyndromic-hearing-loss/">nonsyndromic hearing loss</a>, accounting for up to half of all cases.<a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a><a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a> 
About one in 20 people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent,<a id="f4" href="#a4">[4]</a> one in 20 people of European descent, <a id="f5" href="#a5">[5]</a><a id="f6" href="#a6">[6]</a> and up to one in 4 people of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent<a id="f7" href="#a7">[7]</a><a id="f8" href="#a8">[8]</a><a id="f9" href="#a9">[9]</a> is a carrier for DFNB1. (Being a carrier for DFNB1 is also common in people of other ancestries, but precise estimates are not currently available.)
<h6>Details on the report update</h6>
In our recent report update, we added 6 new variants to the Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Deafness, DFNB1 (GJB2-Related) Carrier Status report. These additional variants include some that are particularly common in people of East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian descent. The newly added variants are also frequently found in people of Ashkenazi Jewish, European, Ghanaian, and Hispanic/Latino descent. The previous version of the report included two variants that are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish and European descent.
The improvements between the previous version of the report and the updated version are extensive. For example, our previous report was expected to detect fewer than 1 percent of carriers of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent; the updated report detects 75-99 percent of these carriers, depending on the region of ancestry.<a id="f10" href="#a10">[10]</a> Among people of South Asian descent, the carrier detection rate improved from 0-73 percent to 48-92 percent. In addition, one of the new variants is particularly common in people of Ghanaian descent and provides more than 90 percent coverage for that population.<a id="f10" href="#a10">[10]</a>
<h6>Actionable health information</h6>
Although DFNB1-related hearing loss is not reversible, learning one&#8217;s carrier status can help prospective parents prepare and learn more about support options, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and educational programs. However, it&#8217;s important to note that not everyone who inherits two GJB2 variants (one from each parent) will experience noticeable hearing loss. The degree of hearing loss can also vary depending on which genetic variants a person has, as well as other factors.
In addition to providing carrier status information, the updated report can now inform customers if they have two copies of some tested variants. It can also tell customers with certain combinations of variants that people with their result may have DFNB1-related hearing loss.
The updated Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Deafness, DFNB1 (GJB2-Related) Carrier Status report is available to 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service customers who are genotyped on the <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/218392668-Upgrading-to-23andMe-s-Newest-Version">V5 version of our chip</a>. 
<h6 class="footnotes">References:</h6>
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<a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> Smith RJH et al. (1998). &#8220;Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Deafness, DFNB1.&#8221; [Accessed Dec 17, 2020].</footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"></code> <a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a> Shearer AE et al. (1999). &#8220;Hereditary Hearing Loss and Deafness Overview.&#8221; [Accessed Dec 17, 2020]. ].</footer>
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<a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a>Chan DK et al. (2014). &#8220;GJB2-associated hearing loss: systematic review of worldwide prevalence, genotype, and auditory phenotype.&#8221; Laryngoscope. 124(2):E34-53.</footer>
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<a id="f4" href="#a4">[4]</a> Dong J et al. (2001). &#8220;Nonradioactive detection of the common Connexin 26 167delT and 35delG mutations and frequencies among Ashkenazi Jews.&#8221; Mol Genet Metab. 73(2):160-3.</footer>
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<a id="f5" href="#a5">[5]</a> Green GE et al. (1999). &#8220;Carrier rates in the midwestern United States for GJB2 mutations causing inherited deafness.&#8221; JAMA. 281(23):2211-6.</footer>
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<a id="f6" href="#a6">[6]</a> Hall A et al. (2012). &#8220;Prevalence and audiological features in carriers of GJB2 mutations, c.35delG and c.101T&gt;C (p.M34T), in a UK population study.&#8221; BMJ Open. 2(4).</footer>
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<a id="f7" href="#a7">[7]</a> Hwa HL et al. (2003). &#8220;Mutation spectrum of the connexin 26 (GJB2) gene in Taiwanese patients with prelingual deafness.&#8221; Genet Med. 5(3):161-5.</footer>
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<a id="f8" href="#a8">[8]</a> Chan OYM et al. (2021). &#8220;Expanded carrier screening using next-generation sequencing of 123 Hong Kong Chinese families: a pilot study.&#8221; Hong Kong Med J. 27(1):177-183.</footer>
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<a id="f9" href="#a9">[9]</a> Wattanasirichaigoon D et al. (2004). &#8220;High prevalence of V37I genetic variant in the connexin-26 (GJB2) gene among non-syndromic hearing-impaired and control Thai individuals.&#8221; Clin Genet. 66(5):452-60.</footer>
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<a id="f10" href="#a10">[10]</a> Tsukada K et al. (2015). &#8220;Ethnic-specific spectrum of GJB2 and SLC26A4 mutations: their origin and a literature review.&#8221; Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 124 Suppl 1:61S-76S.</footer>
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*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults for the purpose of reporting carrier status and reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. The relevance of each report may vary based on ethnicity. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future or anything about the health of your fetus, or your newborn child&#8217;s risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. The Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Deafness, DFNB1 (GJB2-Related) carrier status report is indicated for the detection of eight variants in the GJB2 gene. The report can tell you if you have two copies of some tested variants, and if you are at risk of having hearing loss related to DFNB1, but does not describe your overall risk of having DFNB1-related hearing loss. This test is relevant for people of many, but not all, ethnicities.

23andMe Improves Carrier Status Report for People with Asian Ancestry

Claudia didn’t know she was an “Alpha,” as people with her condition sometimes call themselves.
For years, decades really, she didn’t know why she was susceptible to sinus infections, bronchitis, and periodic bouts with pneumonia. Neither did her doctors. <code style="display: none;"> </code> <code style="display: none;"> </code>
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 300px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Editor’s Note: We’ve talked to hundreds of people about what they did ‘after the click,’ after they opened up a report and learned about an unknown risk for breast cancer, or lung and liver disease, or cardiac and neurological issues. 
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In fact, at one point after suffering from shortness of breath, she went in for several tests, but her doctor thought she was focused on the wrong thing.
“He said maybe I needed to exercise more because he couldn’t find anything wrong with me,” Claudia said.
<h6>Unraveling a Mystery</h6>
Beyond the frustration, these interactions left her with self-doubt. Was this all just in her head?
But what Claudia and her doctors didn’t know was that it wasn’t just in her head; it was something lurking in her genome linked to <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency">alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency</a> (AATD). Not well known, the condition decreases levels of the alpha-1 antitrypsin protein, which can lead to damage to the lungs and liver. It’s also notoriously hard to diagnose. In Claudia’s case, it took nearly 30 years.
It wasn’t until she clicked on her 23andMe Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Genetic Health Risk Report* that her symptoms started to make sense. Claudia learned she had two copies of the PI*Z variant in the SERPINA1 gene, putting her at a higher risk for developing lung and liver disease related to AATD. That variant and another, PI*S, account for more than 95 percent of the cases of AATD.
“I looked at my report and then asked my pulmonary doctor to test for AATD,” she said.
That led to her diagnosis and then treatment for the sometimes-debilitating condition. 
<h6><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29777 size-large" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-1024x998.png" alt="" width="1024" height="998" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-1024x998.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-300x292.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-768x749.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-880x858.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-1180x1150.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image.png 1853w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Not Alone</h6>
We wrote<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/a-medical-mystery-solved/"> about Claudia</a> not too long ago. But we wanted to look at her story again in the context of new data from a<a href="https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(21)04099-X/fulltext"> recent study</a> that found that her case is not so unusual for people with AATD. In fact, there are some parallels with several other conditions in which a genetic variant confers an increased likelihood of developing a serious disease. As in Claudia’s case, genetic testing can alert those who carry this pathogenic variant of this unknown risk. That in turn can help individuals with a risk of an under-recognized but treatable condition like AATD work with their doctor to treat or prevent serious illness. 
The study found that more than a quarter, 27 percent, of those in our study who were diagnosed with AATD only got their diagnosis after becoming aware of the risk through genetic testing from 23andMe. The study, which included 195,000 individuals, including more than 1,450 with AATD, also found that among those newly diagnosed with AATD, the gap between when they first noticed symptoms and diagnosis was more than 20 years.
In an unpublished follow-up qualitative research done with some of the study participants, many said that learning of their risk of AATD, and then sharing that information with their doctor, offered the kind of actionable information they needed to better manage their health. More than half of those with the most serious variants shared their reports with their doctors.
One of those who participated in the study said:
“[My pulmonologist] said, probably if I had not done [23andMe], 10 years down the road, he would have been seeing me with some really disabling disease… I’m really grateful that I found out about it, and that I can do something about it.”
<h6>Taking Action</h6>
Beyond just getting treatment, going through the report also led to some individuals making healthy behavioral changes, like exercising more or giving up smoking or drinking. 
That’s what happened with Claudia.
Although she’d quit smoking before being tested and never drank much, after learning of her risk, Claudia tried to minimize her exposure to things like chemical smells or smoke that might trigger breathing issues. She stopped using aromatic candles for instance, as well as aerosols and harsh cleaning products. Now she pays attention to the air quality whenever she is planning on doing outdoor activities. But Claudia also wonders how things might have played out if she’d learned 30 years ago that she had Alpha 1.
“If I had known these things when I first started showing symptoms over 30 years ago…  I could have possibly taken more precautions that would have helped with the several bouts of pneumonia I had,” Claudia said.
<h6>Knowledge is Power</h6>
Now she takes a low dose antibiotic and uses extra precautions if she gets a cold as a way to stave off coming down with pneumonia. She’s been that much more diligent about protecting herself during the pandemic. And, because genetics plays a role in the risk for the condition, she talked to her children, who all got tested. Fortunately, none of them were found to have Alpha 1.
But perhaps most impactful for Claudia is the power of knowing. 
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 300px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">What’s Your Story?
<p style="margin-top: 0in; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Like our DNA, our stories connect us. They can also inspire, entertain and empower us. Thousands of 23andMe customers have already shared their stories with us. 
<p style="margin-top: 0in; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">If you have a story to share, we would love to hear it. Just click right <a href="https://www.23andme.com/stories/#form">here to shar</a>e. 
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“The other thing about finally finding out that I had AATD was being able to access knowledge I did not have before, which if for no other reason gave me an answer to why I couldn&#8217;t go up the stairs without being out of breath,” she said recently. “That knowledge was huge for me. I see my pulmonary doctor regularly now and have liver tests yearly. I&#8217;m in my late 60s and hopefully, I will never need to go on oxygen or have augmentation, but if I do, I&#8217;ll know to be prepared and understand the reason for it.”
*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 Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Deficiency genetic health risk report is indicated for reporting of the PI*Z and PI*S variants in the SERPINA1 gene and describes if a person has variants associated with AAT deficiency and a higher risk for lung and liver disease. The variants included in this report are most common and best studied in people of European descent.

After the Click: Claudia Catches Her Breath

Aarathi Sugathan, Ph.D., found her calling in an undergraduate bioinformatics course at the University of Toronto. “I was intrigued,” she recalls. “Here was a way to answer biological questions using the computer in addition to laboratory research.”

This intrigue propelled her through college and a subsequent Ph.D. program and eventually led her to the 23andMe Therapeutics team.
As a Senior Scientist of Computational Biology at 23andMe, Aarathi uses genetic insights to identify and create actionable therapeutic targets for patients. The role feels tailor-made. 
“I get to work on problems that are both interesting to me and really matter to the world,” she says. “In hindsight, it makes perfect sense.”
<h6>How did your academic background lead you to 23andMe?</h6>
My Ph.D. work was on quite basic biology, trying to understand the mechanisms of gene regulation in mouse liver. My postdoc was primarily in a genetics lab.
Then I moved into industry; my first job was at a biotechnology company that aimed to discover new immunotherapy drugs for cancers.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1016" height="1526" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Aarathi-Sugathan©PITER2019-23andMe3580.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29785" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Aarathi-Sugathan©PITER2019-23andMe3580.jpg 1016w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Aarathi-Sugathan©PITER2019-23andMe3580-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Aarathi-Sugathan©PITER2019-23andMe3580-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Aarathi-Sugathan©PITER2019-23andMe3580-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Aarathi-Sugathan©PITER2019-23andMe3580-586x880.jpg 586w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Aarathi-Sugathan©PITER2019-23andMe3580-786x1180.jpg 786w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px" /></figure>
 
 I feel that 23andMe is a combination of all the above – genetics and drug discovery, and of course, there’s a need to understand underlying biology to put those two things together.
 And I’ve always told people that working here feels like a mix between my postdoc lab (the genetics focus and an academic-like environment in some ways), my previous job (drug discovery and working closely with wet lab scientists), and a tech company (for obvious reasons). It’s a very unique and exciting place to be.
<h6>Can you give an overview of your role?</h6>
 As a member of the Computational Biology team, my job is to help move from a promising genetic association to an actionable therapeutic target that we can use to develop therapies that will ultimately help patients. 
I work closely with people on different teams across the company and use data from our customer-consented genetics research database and other types of data from public sources, as well as data that wet lab scientists in our Therapeutics group generate. 
Using that data, I help prioritize new possible targets. I assess their genetic and biological rationale. I also help answer questions like when and where genes are expressed and what happens in disease conditions compared to normal tissue to help us narrow down the correct targets and understand their mechanisms of action. 
<h6>Earlier this year, 23andMe began clinical trials of its first immuno-oncology (I/O) antibody developed in-house. The Computational Biology team played a key role in each phase of this process. What was that experience like?</h6>
I haven’t worked directly on the CD200R1 program, but I frequently interact with my colleagues who do; it’s certainly very exciting to see how work by our team directly helped identify the target and has continued to support the program all the way through to the clinic.
One of the things I am working on now is thinking about ways to use an approach similar to what we use in immuno-oncology, to try and put together genetic data across different phenotypes to aid in target discovery for other diseases. 
<h6>Does working with such a large genetic data set ever present challenges?</h6>
Definitely. Honestly, I’ve handled them by working together with very talented people across multiple teams who have figured out and continue to figure out better ways to meet these challenges. 
<h6>What projects are you working on that you’re most excited about?</h6>
 Probably the one I am most excited about is the work I’m doing to prioritize the genetic hits that are the most promising for drug target discovery. 
This has involved figuring out the best metrics and benchmarks for a “good” target and using these to evaluate hypotheses. I’m also working on how best to integrate other types of non-genetic data in the public domain that are relevant to specific disease areas, which would help understand and make use of the underlying biological mechanisms that lead to a disease phenotype.
 Another exciting project I’m working on is the Black Representation in Genomic Research project. Through consented research participation, we were able to gather gene expression and genetic data from individuals with African ancestry. Their contribution to this project has helped us better map genetic signals to the underlying causal genes in a way that better represents the variation between humans with different ancestral compositions.
My work for this project has been focused on investigating differences in gene expression between different populations to determine how much our ability to map genetic signals to causal genes is limited by using only datasets that are predominantly from individuals of European descent.

Gene Screen: Computational Biologist Aarathi Sugathan Uses Genetic Insights to Fuel Drug Discoveries

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but for many of us, the pandemic has brought mental health into focus. 
23andMe wants to raise awareness about the issue and give our employees some tools to cope with these trying times. We also want to share what we do with those outside the company. First, we just need to recognize that these are trying times. 
<h2>Pandemic and Other Forces</h2>
Beyond COVID-19, political upheaval, war, economic uncertainty, and other stressors have compounded to create a mental health crisis. This crisis has hit some of us harder than others. 
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide">25 percent increase</a> in anxiety and depression worldwide.  In December 2021, in a rare advisory, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that young people were in the midst of an unprecedented<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf"> mental health crisis</a>. 
Working parents also feel mentally stressed; more than 66 percent reported feeling “burned out,” according to a recent study by researchers at Ohio State University. And not that you need more confirmation, but a study last year by the Society for Human Resource Management found that almost half of all working people were burned out or emotionally drained.
<h2>Focusing Attention</h2>
Addressing the issue starts with simple awareness that we have a problem. Indeed, mental health issues — depression, anxiety, and stress — were all issues before the pandemic, but COVID-19 focused our attention.
“It’s too bad it took a pandemic to do that,” said Dr. Vidya Krishnan, the Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director for the Children’s Health Council and a program called RISE that is focused on helping teens in mental health crises.
The comment came up during an internal company-wide meeting at 23andMe, part of a series of talks and presentations meant to raise awareness and give employees tools to help themselves and others struggling with mental health challenges.
23andMe is committed to helping its employees identify strategies for overcoming some of these challenges. Some of this involves simply providing space and permission to talk about it, but we also offer tips for reducing stress. 
For Mental Health Awareness Month, 23andMe held a live stream on May 26th with special guest speakers who covered topics as wide-ranging as making healthy, feel-good snacks or tips on breathing and meditation to reduce your stress each day. 

Here are some of the resources and additional information from those sessions. You can also check out the full stream here.
<h2>Striking a Balance Between Work and Life </h2>
Dr. Lauren Cook, a psychologist and author, was joined by Joey Price, a leadership coach and the CEO of Jumpstart HR. Together, they shared mental health resources to help people avoid burnout and find balance. 
How to approach your day:
During the discussion, Dr. Cook referenced Hal Elrod’s book <a href="https://miraclemorning.com/books/">The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)</a> and discussed the need to set yourself up for success at the start of each day. It could be something as simple as getting up early and being productive or just taking your time and watching TV in the morning. The key is being kind and giving yourself grace in the morning. 

In addition to Dr. Cook’s advice, Joey suggests taking the same approach for the rest of your day. 
“Know your work style and when you have your peaks and rushes of energy during the day,” he said, adding that you should try to tackle tasks during those times. 
It’s also important to communicate this with your supervisor and team members so they know what works best for you.
Meeting and optimizing your time:
The segment then goes into advice about meetings and optimizing everyone’s time. Joey’s advice is to over-communicate by attaching an agenda and keeping it time-bound. He also says it’s important to have boundaries with meetings. Figure out when you say no when you say yes to meetings, and when you say yes how to ask for a hard stop, or even ask ahead of time if you need to prepare anything to be ready for the meeting. Have those tools in your toolkit to be a better attendee and get more out of any meeting.
Dr. Cook’s big takeaway is to give yourself space between meetings, particularly for meeting planners. People need time between their sessions. Then, for people who are being invited to meetings, make sure you stay engaged. If, after a few meetings, you still ask if you really need to be there, it’s probably time to talk to your supervisor about it. 
Final advice:
Dr. Cook says everyone needs to start practicing “monotasking,” or focusing on one task at a time. The more you can be present for what’s happening right now, the better your mental health will be, especially since we’re seeing such a correlation between multitasking and burnout.
Joey’s final message: get outside, connect with nature, and even bring nature inside. It’s good for your mental health.
How to connect with them:
Dr. Lauren Cook: <a href="https://www.drlaurencook.com/">Website</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-boardroom-brain-with-dr-lauren-cook/id1607579872">The Boardroom Brain Podcast</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dr.laurencook/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.laurencook">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurencook/">LinkedIn</a>
Joey Price: <a href="http://www.jumpstart-hr.com">Jumpstart HR</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/while-we-were-working-your-weekly-small-business-hr/id1598005547">While We Were Working Podcast</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joeyvpricehr/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/joeyvpriceHR">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyvprice/">LinkedIn</a> 
<h2>Remember to Breathe</h2>
Kelly Blaser, yoga and meditation instructor, writer, and licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, shared wellness and breathing exercises you can easily include in your workday. 
What to do when you don’t have much time:
Kelly discussed what she calls “ninja mindfulness,” which is something you can do on the fly to integrate little moments of practice throughout your day. 
You might even need a mindset shift if you don’t have time to do meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises during your day. A practice of five to ten minutes daily, even just for a month, will radically shift how you experience your life. And if you don’t have time for that, even the little things you can do to shift your attention will help. For example, when you walk during the day, be aware of the way your foot strikes the ground and think about your kinship with the planet. Bring in that awareness and pair it with something you’re already doing. 
Breathing exercises:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Physiological sigh: Two inhalations through the nose and one long exhalation through the nose or mouth.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Breath retention and “box breathing”: Inhale to a count of 4, hold to a count of 4, exhale to a count of 4, and hold for a count of 4. Then go through it again.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Envision a point that’s at the base of your thoracic cavity, on top of the diaphragm. And then another point that’s two fist lengths above your head. As you inhale, you imagine energy flowing down from the upper point all the way to the base of the heart, then hold. As you exhale, imagine energy flowing back up to top, and then hold. If it’s difficult to picture energy flowing, just imagine you’re moving your awareness. </li>
</ol>
How to connect with Kelly:
<a href="https://www.somapsychotherapy.com/yoga">Website</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kellyblaser.dharmabridge/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyblaser/">LinkedIn</a>
<h2>Feel-good Foods</h2>
23andMe’s Chef Clinton and Janice Motha show you how to make feel-good snacks and drinks that can give you a mental boost during your workday
How to spruce up your water:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saffron honey water: To make a gallon, boil some water, add about a tablespoon of saffron, and a half a cup of organic honey. Then dump it over ice. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Basil and Meyer lemon: Roll the basil in your hands and dump it in the water</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A few other ingredient ideas: ginger and lime or mint and berries</li>
</ul>
Afternoon “pick me up” snack ideas:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make your own granola. One recipe involves mixing almonds, pecans, walnuts, and slightly hydrated raisins with honey and roasting them. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hydrate the granola in yogurt, and make it into balls. Then, dip it in dark chocolate.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Dark chocolate and raspberries</li>
</ul>
We can’t make the stress go away, but we hope that one or all of these sessions will help you turn down the stress meter and make getting through your day a little easier.

Mental Health Awareness Month Tips You Can Use

By Catherine Weldon and Stella Aslibekyan, Ph.D.* 
In what is among the largest studies of long COVID to date, researchers at 23andMe confirm that it disproportionately impacts women, and being diagnosed with depression or anxiety is associated with a more than a two-fold increase in risk for the condition. The study also found that about half of those with persistent symptoms are experiencing them for six months or longer.  
Even after a year, more than 10 percent of those who reported being diagnosed with long COVID continue to have symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and shortness of breath. It’s important to note long COVID refers to individuals who have health effects that linger weeks, months, or longer after COVID-19 infection.
In regression analyses controlling for age, sex, and ethnicity, 23andMe researchers found that those who reported that they had depression or anxiety prior to COVID-19 infection had a two-fold increase in the risk of being diagnosed with long COVID, and having a cardiometabolic disease was associated with a 90 percent higher risk of being diagnosed.  Cardiometabolic diseases include conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.
23andMe data also indicate that more than half of the participants saw no difference after vaccination. Of those who did see a difference, approximately twice as many people reported improvement rather than worsening of some or all symptoms. 
<h6>Confirms Some Previous Findings</h6>
Preliminary data from the unpublished study indicates that women are at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with long COVID compared to men even when controlling for age, ethnicity, and related health conditions. This contrasts with the overall breakdown of those infected with COVID-19, where<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42399-020-00341-w"> men are much more likely</a> to be infected than women. Men are slightly more likely to die from the virus as well, according to a<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953622000193#!"> recent Harvard study</a>.
The 23andMe study data is also consistent with<a href="https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(21)00629-7/fulltext"> other studies</a> that have found women are much more likely to develop long COVID. More than 78 percent of those diagnosed with long COVID in the study were females, compared to about 62 percent among those who reported not having experienced long COVID. The findings in our study are aligned with other studies, including a <a href="https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(21)00629-7/fulltext">study</a> led by researchers at the University of Milan that found that women were more than three times as likely to develop long COVID than men.
23andMe’s data also indicated that when compared with men, a larger percentage of women with long COVID appear to have symptoms that persist a bit longer, which is also consistent with<a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2021.0411"> other smaller studies</a>. In addition, long COVID disturbs menstrual cycles; according to 23andMe’s data, about a quarter are reporting that they are still dealing with disruptions after a year. 
Beyond the disproportionate impact on women, those who have had the most severe cases of COVID are also at a much higher risk of developing long COVID. In the 23andMe study, researchers found that individuals with COVID who required hospitalization had a more than ten-fold risk of being diagnosed with long COVID compared to those who were not hospitalized when controlling for age, sex, and ethnicity. 
<h6>Very Large Study Cohort</h6>
Scientists still don’t understand what causes long COVID, nor how to best treat it. An effort to recruit patients to study the condition by the National Institutes of Health got off to a slow start, with the agency only recruiting about 1,300 people by late March, far short of their 40,000-patient goal.
The 23andMe study included data from more than 100,000 individuals who reported contracting COVID-19. Of those included in this study, more than 26,000 reported that they had experienced long COVID, and over 7,000 said they’d been diagnosed with it. This unpublished study is part of <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/tag/covid-19/">a series of studies</a> being conducted by 23andMe scientists since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
Among the areas of study is research on <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/23andme-covid-study-published/">the role blood type plays</a> in severity and susceptibility to the virus, and insights into the genetics that influence <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/reaction-to-covid-vaccine/">different reactions</a> to COVID-19 vaccines. Earlier this year, 23andMe published a study in the journal<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-021-00986-w"> Nature Genetics</a> that identified genetic variants associated with the loss of smell or taste due to COVID-19. That paper offers more detail on the study, which identified variants near two olfactory genes — UGT2A1 and UGT2A2.

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Long-Haulers and Sex Differences
This latest study is part of an effort to better understand the so-called<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-021-01145-z"> long haulers</a>: individuals with health effects that linger weeks, months, or longer after COVID-19 infection.
Why do some individuals continue to have symptoms long after the initial infection? Why are women more likely to develop long COVID than men, and what is the role of genetics in this?
While the 23andMe researchers found no genetic variants associated with developing long COVID, the higher rate of cases in women may be indicative of differences in hormonal levels, which are substantially rooted in genetics.
The sex differences do suggest biological underpinnings and can help elucidate them.  
Scientists know there are similar differences for other kinds of conditions. For example, women are much more likely than men to develop autoimmune conditions such as lupus or multiple sclerosis. Autoimmune conditions occur when the body’s immune system misfires and attacks healthy cells in the body. Females typically have two copies of the X chromosome, which has the largest number of immune-related genes. That in turn means that different immune responses are more pronounced in women.
Whether this explains the much higher incidence of long COVID in women has yet to be determined. But 23andMe researchers did find that about a third, or 32 percent, of those diagnosed with long COVID had some sort of autoimmune disease, compared to only about 20 percent among those who reported not having experienced long COVID. 
<h6>Serious Symptoms</h6>
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 315px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Among the largest long COVID studies to date using self-reported data from more than 100,000 individuals consented to participate in research.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Females are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with long COVID compared to males when controlling for age, race/ethnicity, and related health conditions.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Long COVID Symptoms linger past 12 months among at least 10 percent of those with long COVID.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">More than half of those with Long COVID had a history of depression, anxiety, or cardiometabolic disease prior to COVID-19 infection.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Having a history of depression or anxiety was associated with more than a two-fold increase in the risk of being diagnosed with Long COVID.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Having a cardiometabolic disease is associated with an approximately 90% higher risk of being diagnosed with long COVID.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">About a third of those who develop Long COVID have an autoimmune disease.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">More than half of the participants saw no difference in symptoms after vaccination. Of those who did, almost twice as many reported improvement in symptoms compared to those who reported worsening symptoms. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hospitalization for COVID led to a ten-fold increase in the risk of being diagnosed with long COVID. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">This unpublished study is part of <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/tag/covid-19/">a series of studies</a> being conducted by 23andMe scientists since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Although trend lines are pointing downward for infections, hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19, the impact of long COVID remains unknown. The condition is thought to affect as many as <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1626">30 percent</a> of those who are infected with the virus.
23andMe’s study found that symptoms lasted from three months to more than a year, with some individuals continuing to suffer. The top symptoms– which the participants reported arose only after the COVID-19 infection– were brain fog, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Among those diagnosed with COVID-19, even at six months about 34 percent of those diagnosed with the condition reported an inability to focus or concentrate associated with what’s termed “brain fog.” After a year, about 19 percent still had brain fog. After 12 months, about 14 percent reported having shortness of breath, and about 7 percent said they had heart palpitations.
<h6>What’s Next</h6>
There are a few limitations to our study that we should note. For one, this study relies on self-reported data from 23andMe consented research participants. As with other studies on long COVID, the diagnosis is still nebulous and highly variable, and the reports can be subjective. We include both information from those participants who reported that they were diagnosed with long COVID or simply reported that they had long COVID. 
Another important consideration is that 23andMe’s data is not representative of the U.S. population as a whole. That said, the prevalence of various symptoms is similar to that in the published literature. 
Future studies are warranted to continue documenting the natural history of long COVID over longer time periods. In addition to corroborating our findings, it is possible that future studies of even larger populations will find some genetic underpinnings of the reported symptoms, although the individual effect of each genetic factor is likely to be small. 
As people continue to deal with symptoms of long COVID, using studies like ours to better understand the illness will be increasingly important. Projecting over the millions of individuals worldwide who’ve been infected or are yet to be infected, the public health impact of long COVID is likely to linger for years to come. Understanding the underlying biology and associations may help as scientists wrestle with the best way to treat the condition.
<hr />
*Catherine is an associate scientist at 23andMe and Stella is a genetic epidemiologist at 23andMe.
<hr />
Editor&#8217;s note: Throughout this post we use the word women for simplicity, but the study was actually based on anyone with XX chromosomes. So &#8220;women&#8221; in our study may include people whose gender identity is different than the sex they were assigned at birth.

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