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

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

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

23andMe Offers a New Report on Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Your body mass index (BMI) is calculated as your weight divided by your height squared. BMI is often used to assess if someone is underweight, overweight, or at a healthy weight.
We calculated the average BMI for 23andMe research participants in each US state:
<h6>Average BMI of 23andMe participants by US state</h6>

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="565" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map-1024x565.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27982" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map-1024x565.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map-300x165.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map-768x423.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map-880x485.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map-1180x651.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map-271x149.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map-372x204.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BMI-IN-America-Map.jpg 1560w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
The average BMI of 23andMe participants in every US state is over 25, which is in the range described by the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) as overweight. According to the CDC, the states with the highest prevalence of obesity in 2014 were Arkansas (AR), West Virginia, WV), and Mississippi (MS).
This discovery was made possible thanks to 23andMe customers who participated in research.
<h6>Scientific details</h6>
The findings are based on responses from 230,000 23andMe customers who participated in research. We selected the top five states with highest BMI by evaluating the 95 percent confidence intervals for the average BMI estimates. Each of the states listed had a lower bound of at least 27.9. While BMI is often used as a screening tool, it is not diagnostic of overall health or body fat mass. In addition, the 23andMe database may not be representative of the general population.
<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Obesity Prevalence Maps</a>
Keep in mind that 23andMe research insights are preliminary and are meant for informational purposes only.

BMI across the USA

Many African Americans can relate to the years of frustration Paul Mosley had trying to track back his family history.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Paul-Mosley-e1549909372876-300x245.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26653" width="300" height="245" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Paul-Mosley-e1549909372876-300x245.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Paul-Mosley-e1549909372876-768x628.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Paul-Mosley-e1549909372876-1024x838.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Paul-Mosley-e1549909372876-880x720.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Paul-Mosley-e1549909372876-1180x965.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Paul-Mosley-e1549909372876.jpg 1809w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

For Paul, there was always a certain point where the trail ended. Like many African Americans, Paul’s search came up empty.

The U.S.&#8217;s history of slavery severed his connections to the past. Instead of being able to find ancestors’ names in old birth and death records, or Census records, many African Americans must resort to combing through slaveholder property records, or slave auction logs. Even rarer, are those records or even oral histories to give people like Paul a way to trace their family ties back to Africa.

“I became angry every time I would see someone saying their family tree traced back to Ireland, Italy or some other country, and I couldn’t find my family because of slavery,” he said.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-AC-300x263.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26881" width="300" height="263" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-AC-300x263.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-AC-768x673.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-AC-1024x897.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-AC-880x771.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-AC.png 1032w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

Using paper records, Paul had been able to trace his ancestry to about 1870, but he couldn’t go back any further. So after he received 23andMe as a gift, he eagerly awaited for what he might learn through DNA. While he knows his ancestors were forcibly brought here from Africa because of slavery, he’s always wanted to know more about his family’s origins.

That first step in learning more came when he opened up his <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/#toc-ancestry-composition">23andMe Ancestry Composition</a> report.

<h6>West Africa</h6>
“I logged in, and the tears started to well up in my eyes because my results showed that almost 90 percent of my ancestors traced to West Africa and the shores of the Transatlantic Slave Trade,” Paul said.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-Breakdown-300x205.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-26884" width="300" height="205" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-Breakdown-300x205.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Pauls-Breakdown.png 539w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
His results showed that he was 91 percent Sub-Saharan African, and his DNA connected him to 15 populations in West Africa – with the largest percentages coming from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The emotional reaction surprised him, he said. He hadn’t expected the profound impact it had on him.

“These results placed my family on those slave ships,” he said. “For the first time in my 55 years of life … I now have confirmation that I have a direct connection to the Motherland. I feel like an orphan who has reconnected with his biological family.”

23andMe Helps Customer Connect to West Africa

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

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

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

Some of the same genes that influence a person’s propensity toward impulsiveness also affect whether or not he or she will use drugs, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
&nbsp;
Published today in the <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/lookup/doi/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2662-18.2019">Journal of Neuroscience</a>, the study is another in a series of studies done by researchers looking at the genetic underpinnings of behavior, addiction, and psychological disorders. For this work the scientists used data from more than 20,000 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research, making it the largest genetic study of impulsive behavior to date.
<h6>Behavior</h6>
“By studying the genetic basis of normal variation in behavior, we can learn about the role of genetics in complex psychiatric disorders like drug abuse,” said lead author of the study <a href="http://profiles.ucsd.edu/abraham.palmer">Abraham Palmer, Ph.D</a>., a professor of psychiatry and vice chair for basic research at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. “Additional studies of younger and more diverse populations could provide additional insights into the genetics and consequences of impulsiveness.”
<div id="attachment_25919" style="width: 209px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-25919" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Abraham-Palmer-photo-199x300.jpg" alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-25919" width="199" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Abraham-Palmer-photo-199x300.jpg 199w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Abraham-Palmer-photo-768x1156.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Abraham-Palmer-photo-680x1024.jpg 680w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Abraham-Palmer-photo-585x880.jpg 585w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Abraham-Palmer-photo-784x1180.jpg 784w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Abraham-Palmer-photo.jpg 1063w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px" />Prof. Abraham Palmer</div>
For this work, and a study Palmer and his team did last year that also looked at another measure of impulsivity called <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/wait-new-genetic-research-impulsivity/">“delay discounting,”</a> the researchers compared genetic data with survey responses on impulsivity and a history of drug use from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research. The genome-wide association study found variants in the gene CADM2 — previously implicated in risk-taking, alcohol consumption, and cannabis use — associated with impulsivity and drug use. The team also identified an association with a variant in a gene previously implicated in schizophrenia risk — CACNA1I. They also saw an association with something called “negative urgency”— a tendency to act impulsively in the face of adversity.
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<h6>Big Data</h6>
These findings demonstrate how an individual’s genetic makeup may predispose them to engage in risky behavior, including drug use and abuse. Additional studies of younger and more diverse populations could provide further insights into the genetics and consequences of impulsive personality traits, the researchers said.
&nbsp;
The study also shows the potential of large datasets like 23andMe.
&nbsp;
&#8220;Data shared by 23andMe research participants helped make this work possible &#8212; and this is one of several recent publications we&#8217;ve worked on related to personality, behavior and psychiatric conditions,” said Sarah Elson, PhD, Senior Scientist, 23andMe.
“These findings may have potentially significant effects on how we interpret the relationships between genetics and mental health; and, in the future, predict and treat some of these hard-to-understand conditions.&#8221;

Genetic Study of Impulsiveness Reveals Associations with Drug Use

In the largest genetic study of its kind, scientists have identified more than 200 genes associated with depression that could give new insights to researchers looking for treatments to what is the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression">leading cause of disability</a> in the world.
Combining anonymous data from more than two million people who were part of the three different genome-wide association studies on depression, an international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Edinburgh, identified 269 genes associated with depression.

“These findings are further evidence that depression is partly down to our genetics,” said Professor Andrew McIntosh, of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, who led the research. “We hope the findings will help us understand why some people are more at risk of depression than others, and how we might help people living with depression and anxiety more effectively in the future.”
Published in journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-018-0326-7">Nature Neuroscience</a>, the study, which included data from the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/about-biobank-uk/">UK Biobank</a>, 23andMe, and the <a href="http://www.med.unc.edu/pgc">Psychiatry Genomics Consortium</a>, found that many of the strongest associations were on or near genes involved in neurotransmission and response to stimuli that are part of the central nervous system. And the associations further highlight the importance of studying cortical regions of the brain and their role in the condition, according to the researchers.
Trauma, social factors, and life events all play a role in depression, but by understanding the influence genes have and their role in how an individual responds to those external factors, could help in developing more personalized treatments, the researchers said.
This study also found that depression shared genetic associations with neuroticism — a personality type that is characterized as being more fearful and worried. Researchers also found a shared genetic association with smoking. The later association may indicate that depression could lead some people to smoke.

New Insights into the Genetics of Depression

Diversity Matters in Research

It might not make you “wealthier and wise,” but being early to bed and early to rise is associated with greater wellbeing, according to a new large-scale genetic study looking at the sleep cycle — or whether someone is more likely a morning person or a night owl — and its association with mental health and disease.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/iStock-640228980-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-25757" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/iStock-640228980-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/iStock-640228980-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/iStock-640228980-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/iStock-640228980-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/iStock-640228980-1180x788.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/iStock-640228980.jpg 1254w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The study, published today in the journal<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-08259-7"> Nature Communication</a>, identified new genetic variants associated with circadian rhythm; the body’s sleep and wake cycle measured in a 24-hour day.

<h6>Night Owl v. Morning Person</h6>
Scientists have long known that genetics plays a part in the mix of influences underlying human sleep patterns. But this research uncovered hundreds more genetic associations than previously known as well as new details on the genetics that influence whether an individual is a “night owl” or a morning person. The study also looked at how those different cycles might also affect mental health and susceptibility to disease. So for example, being genetically programmed to rise early may lower one’s risk for schizophrenia and depression. However, the results did not reveal strong links to diseases such as diabetes or obesity, which were indicated in previous smaller studies.
“A large number of individuals in our study means we have provided the strongest evidence to date that “night owls” are at higher risk of mental health problems, such as schizophrenia and mental well-being,&#8221; said Professor Michael Weedon of the<a href="https://medicine.exeter.ac.uk/"> University of Exeter Medical School</a>, and a lead researcher on the study. 
But. Weedon added that &#8220;further studies are needed to fully understand this link,” 
Changes in light stimulation trigger reactions in the brain that influence a person’s sleep cycle. Scientists have long known that genetics plays a part in influencing human circadian rhythms. But this study sheds more light on the many genes involved in the intricate workings of the body’s internal clock. Because these genes don’t just influence sleep patterns but are also involved in regulating body temperature and hormone levels, that may explain the connection to the risk for certain diseases and mental disorders, according to the researchers.
<h6>Big Data</h6>
Led by scientists at the University of Exeter and Harvard Medical School, the study included work from scientists at dozens of other institutions. It was funded by the Medical Research Council and included data from 23andMe customers who opted-in to participate in research and the UK Biobank. In all, the researchers looked at data from almost 700,000 individuals, including sleep data from activity devices used by about 80,000 of those participants. The sheer size of the study allowed researchers to uncover hundreds of previously unknown genetic variants associated with the sleep cycle, said David Hinds, Ph.D., Principal Scientists of Statistical Genetics at 23andMe.
&#8220;Data shared by 23andMe research participants made this work possible,&#8221; Hinds said. “This work will enable better estimates of the genetic contribution to this trait, as well as help us to understand how one aspect of sleep behavior relates to other health conditions.&#8221;
Using insights from previous internal research by 23andMe on sleep and wake cycles, 23andMe offers customers a <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/23andme-adds-four-new-trait-reports/">“Wake-up Time” report</a> that uses genetic and non-genetic information as part of a statistical model to predict what time a person would typically wake up on their days off work. The report, which uses 450 genetic variants associated with being a morning person or a night owl allows customers to make adjustments to see how age or genetics might impact the prediction. 
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The Genetics of Being a Morning Person

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

MUTYH-associated polyposis, a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome

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