Research shows that there really are &#8220;cat people&#8221; and &#8220;dog people.&#8221; Being one or the other is associated with differences in personality and well-being, according to new data analyzed by 23andMe.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="200" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-1196356447-300x200.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30160" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-1196356447-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-1196356447.jpg 724w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></figure>



While the data reveals a clear cat-dog divide, what is less clear is whether it reflects pre-existing differences or whether owning a dog or a cat contributes to those differences. In other words, does owning a dog or cat make you feel better, less stressed, or even improve your overall health? Does it influence how outgoing you are or how much you exercise?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seeking-solace">Seeking Solace</h2>



Those are interesting questions, especially now during this period of social isolation due to the pandemic. Since the start of stay-at-home orders, there has been a surge in pet adoptions in the United States. This surge has resulted in fewer pets to adopt and a so-called <a href="https://abc7news.com/national-christmas-puppy-shortage-adopting-for-holidays-demand-covid-pandemic-more-dogs-bay-area/6873566/">&#8220;puppy shortage&#8221;</a> just as the holidays approach.



The increased demand for cats and dogs also suggests that owning a pet offers the potential for companionship and solace during these stressful times for some people. That&#8217;s been true for ages. People have kept cats and dogs as companions for millennia. The bond with dogs goes back <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0022821">30,000 years</a>, while cats took a little longer to cozy up to humans, and that bond goes back 4,000 years. The domestication of cats and dogs benefited both humans and our canine and feline friends. Over time that relationship has evolved beyond merely catching rodents or guarding us by the campfire.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-differences-between-cat-and-dog-owners">Some Differences Between Cat and Dog Owners</h2>



<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 300px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
<h6>Cat Owners</h6>
<code style="display: none;"> 
</code>
<ul>
<li>If you are married without kids, you’re more likely to own a cat.</li>
<li>Cat owners are a little more stressed than dog owners.</li>
<li>Cat owners are more likely to live in an urban setting than dog owners.</li>
<li>Women, particularly middle-aged women, are more likely to own a cat.</li>
<li>Cat owners are on average more highly educated.</li>
</ul>
<code style="display: none;"> 
</code>
</div>



For years, scientists have studied pet ownership and its correlation to differences in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/175303710X12750451258850">personality</a> and health outcomes. There is some promising research on the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44083-9#Abs1">heritability of dog ownership</a>. In addition to genetic factors, 23andMe&#8217;s data reveals that cat and dog ownership is a good barometer for health, personality, and even certain behaviors. We also saw differences between those who owned a cat versus a dog. (See sidebar for some of those clear differences in the data.)



For instance, our data showed that women, particularly middle-aged women, are more likely to own a cat than men. Also, if you are married but do not have children, you&#8217;re more likely to own a cat. And cat owners are a little more stressed than dog owners.



However, whether you own a dog or a cat also correlates with other things. Where you live, in a city or a more rural community, plays a role, such as your income and family status. Those demographic factors also affect your health and personality.



So what did we find?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pets-and-stress">Pets and Stress</h2>



<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 300px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
<h6>Dog Owners</h6>
<code style="display: none;"> 
</code>
<ul>
<li>Dog owners are more likely to be married with kids.</li>
<li>Dog owners get a lot more exercise than people who don’t own a dog, 14 percent more likely to exercise each week.</li>
<li>Dog owners are more extroverted than those who don’t own a dog.</li>
</ul>
<code style="display: none;"> 
</code>
</div>



Some of it was surprising, considering the surge in pet adoptions. 23andMe&#8217;s data — from more than 1.5 million customers who consented to participate in research — found an association between owning a cat or a dog and more stress, not less. We used a <a href="http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/departments/Anesthesiology/Wellness/Documents/PerceivedStressScale.pdf">10-item Perceived Stress Scale</a> to compute a relative stress score. Our data, however, doesn&#8217;t show whether individuals get pets because they are already stressed or whether their stress comes from the added responsibilities of owning a pet. People with more stress may be more likely to own pets, and we do not have data to show whether owning a pet helps reduce that stress.



23andMe&#8217;s findings offer a slightly different take on other studies that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/pets-make-you-less-stressed-more-productive-and-healthy-amid-covid-19.html">associate lower stress with pet ownership</a>. But both cat and dog owners are more likely to be stressed, so we simply can’t say whether owning a pet helps to lower their stress.



Our data also highlighted some differences between cat owners and dog owners. For example, dog owners are more likely than cat owners to be married with kids, and they&#8217;re more likely to exercise each week. And dog owners are more extroverted than those who don&#8217;t own a dog.



While the dog versus cat divide may tell us something about personality traits and well-being, it&#8217;s not the complete picture. Some of those differences may have more to do with whether you live in a city or live in rural areas, which may have something to do with demographics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-and-rural-divide">Urban and Rural Divide</h2>



Below is what we saw when we plotted some of this data on maps of the US. We found distinct regional differences between urban and rural communities. For example, we saw that customers in Alaska, which is mostly rural, are much more likely to own a dog than a cat. That’s likely because it’s too cold in Alaska for cats to be outside.



Simultaneously, being in a rural county doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean you&#8217;re more likely to be a dog owner. For instance, in similarly rural states in the Northeast, specifically in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, customers are more likely to own a cat, which may be because cats are used for pest control.



So why do we ask these kinds of questions? What does owning a cat or a dog have to do with genetics or your health?



23andMe asks customers many questions, not just about their health and traits but also about seemingly unrelated things like their ability to do a cartwheel or curl their tongues. We ask these questions because they add layers to what we can learn about how the environment and genetics play a role in personality, well-being, and even health risks.



Customers who are participating in research can look at our <a href="https://you.23andme.com/p/394a5612ffeef442/research/">research overview here</a>. Not yet, a customer? You can <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">Compare 23andMe products </a>or <a href="https://www.23andme.com/publications/">view our research publications</a> for more information.



&nbsp;

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Cats and Dogs and People

23andMe recently launched a genetic study of systemic sclerosis, a rare autoimmune disease that results in the hardening and thickening of the skin and other organs, for which there is currently no cure or effective treatments.  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Scleroderma-Feed-Icon@3x.png" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-28608" width="210" height="210" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Scleroderma-Feed-Icon@3x.png 210w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Scleroderma-Feed-Icon@3x-150x150.png 150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px" /> 
<h6>Studying the Genetics of Systemic Sclerosis</h6>
The hope is that this study will generate genetic information, offering new insight and potential treatments. Systemic sclerosis is a severe subtype of scleroderma that results in fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, such as the stomach, intestines, lungs, heart, and kidneys. 
<h6>Rare Disease</h6>
A disease is deemed “rare” if it affects <a href="https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/pages/31/faqs-about-rare-diseases">fewer than 200,000</a> people in the United States. Often because a rare disease affects fewer people, there is less market incentive to develop a treatment for these conditions.
While individually these conditions are uncommon, there are more than 7,000 rare diseases that have been identified, which impact an estimated 30 million people in the United States according to the NIH. Research on these conditions has been historically limited and slow.
Like many rare diseases, genetics may play an important role in why some people develop systemic sclerosis or why they experience certain symptoms. 
<h6>23andMe&#8217;s Research Model</h6>
This is where the 23andMe research model could help. Because all study activities are done from home, participants can enroll from anywhere in the United States without having to visit a hospital or research center. 
This enables 23andMe researchers to study systemic sclerosis at a scale that has not been possible for other researchers to date. Through this study, people living with systemic sclerosis can provide genetic information and invaluable insight that may lead researchers to a future treatment discovery. 
<h6>Eligibility</h6>
For 23andMe’s Systemic Sclerosis Research Study, our goal is to enroll 1,000 individuals with systemic sclerosis. To participate in this study you must:
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Have been diagnosed with systemic sclerosis</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Are 18+ years old</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Live in the United States </li>
</ul>
If you or someone you know is interested in learning about 23andMe’s study, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/systemic-sclerosis-study/">click here.</a>

23andMe to Study Systemic Sclerosis

Like almost everything this year, the annual meeting of the<a href="https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2020meeting/"> American Society of Human Genetics</a> will be virtual.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-28592" width="300" height="73" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ashg2020-logo-v4-300x73.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Instead of having thousands of scientists converge on a city for a week of presentations on the latest breakthroughs in genetics, this year all of that will be done online. 
But that isn’t the only way that this year’s gathering is different. The meeting, from October 27 to October 30, comes as scientists around the world are in the midst of searching for insights that could lead to treatments or a vaccine for COVID-19.
<h6>Drug Discovery</h6>
And on that note, this year’s conference will begin with Eric Green, the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, hosting a conversation on the role genetic research is playing in drug discovery. 
The panel will include researchers from the National Institutes of Health as well as representatives from biopharmaceutical companies and advocacy organizations. Among those on the panel is George D. Yancopoulos, the chief scientific officer of the biotech company Regeneron, which developed the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/health/trump-antibody-treatment.html"> experimental antibody</a> cocktail that was used to treat President Donald Trump. 
<h6>COVID-19 Research</h6>
Beyond that opening session, the organizers set aside a special poster session that allows for late submissions on work being done on COVID-19 so that the most current studies are on offer. More than three dozen teams, including one from 23andMe, are presenting their data in this<a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/session/551"> “Late-Breaking Posters on COVID-19”</a> session. 23andMe scientists will be presenting their findings from recently published research on genetic and non-genetic factors that contribute to both the<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/23andme-covid-study-published/"> severity and susceptibility of COVID-19</a>.
<h6>23andMe Research Presentations</h6>
But beyond the studies on the virus, the conference, as it does each year, will include much more than just research on the pandemic. On the schedule, there are more than 200 oral presentations, about 2,000 scientific poster presentations, and “booths” from 80 exhibitors. Several teams of scientists from 23andMe will also be presenting some of our non-COVID-19 related research. 
This includes research into using genome-wide association studies to improve the prediction of complex traits and ethical issues around recruiting for research. 23andMe scientists will also be presenting new data that has found an association between certain behaviors, like smoking, and the risk for Parkinson’s disease. 
Here is a list of 23andMe’s presentations and posters:
<ul>
<li>Johnathan Bowes </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/2397">“A participant- centric approach to genotype-driven recruitment”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Emily Bullis </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/2392">“A prospectus on ethical issues in the context of collaborations between academic and non-academic institutions on genetics research”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Karl Heilbron, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3128">“PD Protective Factors”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Priyanka Nandakumar, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3153">“Heritable determinants of mitochondrial heteroplasmy”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Janie Shelton, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3904">“Trans-ethnic analysis of COVID-19 among 23andMe research participants reveals genetic and non-genetic associations with disease susceptibility and severity”</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Wei Wang, Ph.D.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9070/presentation/3185">Improving polygenic risk prediction by transferring GWAS signals from hundreds of complex traits</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>

A image of double helix showing a variant

Annual Genetics Conference Goes All Online This Year

New research published this month adds to a growing list of empirical evidence that people find value in health information gleaned from direct-to-consumer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic testing</a>.
The 23andMe study, published in the journal Molecular Genetics &amp; Genomic Medicine, found that direct-to-consumer testing can lead people to engage in critical conversations with their healthcare providers. In some cases, the results from their reports lead people to make behavioral changes to help lower their disease risk.
&#8220;Most study participants reported that knowing their genetic risk was an advantage,&#8221; said co-lead author Sarah L. Elson, Ph.D., and a 23andMe senior research program manager and senior scientist. &#8220;Many of those who learned about their risk did what you would hope. They either talked to their doctor or made lifestyle changes to help lower their risk.&#8221; <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot-300x223.jpg" alt="Blood cells clotting" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1400" width="300" height="223" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot-300x223.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bloodclot.jpg 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6>The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing</h6>
There have been anecdotal stories from customers about how their results positively impacted their lives, but the study adds data from a large cohort of customers, Elson said.
The study looked at how more than 2,000 people reacted to 23andMe&#8217;s Hereditary Thrombophilia Genetic Health Risk report.* (At the time the name of the report was Inherited Thrombophilia (Factor V Leiden-and Prothrombin-Related.) The participants responded to questions in two different online surveys consisting of just over 100 questions. 
They were asked about their perceptions of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk, whether they discussed their results with healthcare providers, what if any recommendations they received, what actions they took to manage risk, their emotional responses to receiving risk results, and their perceived value of the information. The report looks at the two most common genetic risk factors for hereditary thrombophilia, more generally known as venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTEs are characterized by either deep vein thrombosis, clots that typically form in the legs, or pulmonary embolisms when clots travel into the lungs. Both are very serious and can lead to long term problems, and in some cases, even death.
<h6>The Prevalence of  VTEs</h6>
In the United States alone, there are between 300,000–600,000 cases of VTEs each year. About a quarter of those with VTEs have one of the two variants tested by 23andMe. These two variants are the Factor V Leiden variant in the F5 gene and the Prothrombin G20210A variant in the F2 gene. This study looked at how people reacted to learning whether they had one of those variants, as reported by 23andMe.
A little more than half of those in this study had one of these 2 variants associated with a higher risk for VTE. Ninety percent of those with a high-risk variant had never been clinically tested for Factor V Leiden or the F2 gene variant. After testing, a majority of consumers in the study — 78 percent of those with one of the risk variants and 58 percent without one of the variants — said that it was advantageous to have the test&#8217;s information. Just under half used that information as the impetus for a discussion with their healthcare provider. 
A majority of participants in the study who learned they had a higher than average genetic risk, found personal utility in receiving that information. The study also found that about 30 percent of the research participants made positive behavioral changes to control their risk, such as exercising more, after learning about their risk. 
<h6>A Growing Body of Research </h6>
The research is the latest in what has been a series of peer-reviewed studies over the last decade, explicitly looking at the impact of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. The best known of these is the <a href="https://www.genomes2people.org/research/pgen/">Impact of Personal Genomics Study</a>, known as the PGen study. The study was led by scientists at the Broad Institute and Harvard Medical School. That study and others have tackled several central questions around direct-to-consumer testing. Among those questions are: Can people understand this information? How do they use their test results? Do they use this information to <a href="https://www.genomes2people.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/20170502_PGen_BMCMedicalGenomics_Nielsen_DietExerciseDTC.pdf">manage their health?</a> Does testing impact their level of knowledge or <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/few-worry-about-genetic-testing/">anxiety regarding genetic health risks? </a>
Previous 23andMe research has also tackled some of these questions. One <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/8/">study</a> looked at how consumers responded to reports that showed an increased genetic risk for breast cancer. That study found that people followed the recommendations in 23andMe&#8217;s BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report,* and talked to their doctors. They also got confirmatory tests from their healthcare providers. And they talked to family members about their potential risk, thereby creating a cascade-like benefit. 
In this latest study, looking at how consumers respond to information in their Hereditary Thrombophilia Genetic Health Risk report, 23andMe’s report also helps people who are asymptomatic and, absent of family history, might not have known of their risk for a VTE without 23andMe&#8217;s test. While the report does not cover all the genetic variants associated with VTEs, it does include the two most common and best-understood variants.
As the researchers state in the new study: &#8220;Taken together, these results suggest that consumers may experience personal utility from receiving DTC genetic results for VTE risk that is distinct from the potential benefit in receiving clinically actionable information.&#8221;
<hr />
*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.  Warnings &amp; Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of the 185delAG and 5382insC variants in the BRCA1 gene and the 6174delT variant in the BRCA2 gene. The report describes if a woman is at increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer and if a man is at increased risk of developing breast cancer or may be at increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The three variants included in this report are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and do not represent the majority of BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in the general population. This report does not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in this report does not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up.  Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding other genetic health risk reports and carrier status reports, click <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">here</a>. 
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New Study on People’s Response to Information from Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

Data shows that people&#8217;s activity level is back to pre-pandemic levels
By: Teresa Filshtein Sonmez &amp; Stella Aslibekyan*
A few months into the COVID-19 pandemic, a consistent narrative has emerged: people were <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28313 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1143880641-300x193.jpg" alt="Steps" width="300" height="193" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1143880641-300x193.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1143880641.jpg 736w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
However, the timeframe for most of these studies does not extend past June 2020. Did the decline in activity continue as the work from home trend gained strength and the schools remained closed? Or did people adapt to the new realities of post-COVID-19 life, finding some return to normal in physical exercise?
<h6>An Inflection Point</h6>
New data collected and analyzed by 23andMe appears to support the second scenario. Following the initial 22 percent drop in daily steps during the first month of the epidemic in the US, the average number of daily steps taken by our research participants went back up to the pre-shelter-in-place levels.
The inflection point occurred in mid-April, approximately one month after the first wave of shelter-in-place orders, and was followed by a gradual and consistent recovery throughout the summer months. Because summer is usually associated with increased physical activity, we compared 2020 data to the same period (February &#8211; September) in 2019 (Figure 1).

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="222" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekday-Daily-Totals.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28467" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekday-Daily-Totals.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekday-Daily-Totals-300x130.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Digging into the Data</h6>
Notably, prior to shelter in place orders, physical activity levels were similar between 2019 and 2020, followed by a dramatic divergence in mid-March. After mid-April of 2020, the increase in average daily step counts was steeper compared to the same period in 2019, suggesting that seasonal effects do not completely explain the observed trend. Finally, although 2020 average step counts recovered to pre-pandemic levels by the end of summer, they remained lower than 2019 step counts when seasonality was taken into account.
Because data from wearable devices (e.g. smartwatches) offer a <a href="https://www.wired.com/2015/03/fitness-tracking-test/">more accurate measurement</a> of physical activity than smartphone-derived step counts, we restricted all subsequent analyses to watch data only. We first stratified our data by sex to examine potential disparities. In our <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/activity-changes-during-covid/">initial analysis</a>, we observed that men and women experienced similar drops in physical activity, although women consistently attained ~1000 fewer daily steps than men. This difference, well-documented by <a href="https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2010/10000/Pedometer_Measured_Physical_Activity_and_Health.4.aspx">previous studies</a>, persisted in the recovery data as well (Figure 2).

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="443" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Average-Weekday-totals-1024x443.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28468" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Average-Weekday-totals-1024x443.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Average-Weekday-totals-300x130.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Average-Weekday-totals-768x333.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Average-Weekday-totals-880x381.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Average-Weekday-totals-1180x511.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Average-Weekday-totals.png 1566w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Different Age Groups</h6>
Although the effect of COVID-19 in our data did not vary by sex, different age groups exhibited distinct trajectories in both drop and recovery. Initially, the sharpest drop in physical activity was observed among 20 to 30-year-olds, whose step counts pre-pandemic exceeded those of other age groups. By the end of August, however, this group showed an impressive albeit incomplete recovery (Figure 3).
The only group where step counts remained depressed comprised individuals over 70 years of age, highlighting their vulnerability not only to COVID-19 infection but also to the potential negative consequences of prolonged physical inactivity.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="444" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/weekday-totals-1024x444.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28469" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/weekday-totals-1024x444.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/weekday-totals-300x130.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/weekday-totals-768x333.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/weekday-totals-880x381.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/weekday-totals-1180x512.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/weekday-totals.png 1564w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
We observed that the difference in walking habits between participants from metropolitan vs. rural areas diminished as the pandemic unfolded (Figure 4a). Pre-shelter in place and consistently with <a href="https://jech.bmj.com/content/57/1/29">other reports</a>, urban residents walked on average 600 steps/day more than their rural counterparts. Since late March, however, the average difference between the two groups shrank to less than 100 steps/day.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="223" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekday-Steps-Post-6-months.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28470" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekday-Steps-Post-6-months.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekday-Steps-Post-6-months-300x131.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
Although rural step counts returned to their pre-COVID-19 levels, a full recovery has so far eluded the urban residents — likely reflecting the lasting changes to workplace and school commutes rather than leisure time physical activity. This hypothesis is supported by data collected on weekends (Figure 4b): unlike in weekday data, step counts recorded on Saturdays and Sundays were consistently higher in metropolitan areas.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="446" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekend-Steps-6-Months-After-1024x446.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28466" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekend-Steps-6-Months-After-1024x446.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekend-Steps-6-Months-After-300x131.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekend-Steps-6-Months-After-768x335.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekend-Steps-6-Months-After-880x384.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekend-Steps-6-Months-After-1180x514.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Weekend-Steps-6-Months-After.png 1562w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>The Power of 23andMe&#8217;s Research Model</h6>
Enabled by our powerful rapid data collection platform, our analyses tell a story of both resilience and vulnerability in real-time. The overall conclusion is hopeful: even amidst the pandemic-related disruptions, many people are finding ways to increase their daily movement. This finding is especially encouraging in light of the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/27/well/move/coronavirus-exercise-stress-mental-health-depression-mood-resilience.html"> recent studies</a> showing that exercise may be a successful strategy to boost mental health in these challenging times.
Nevertheless, our data also draw attention to groups that are not experiencing these benefits to the same extent: older individuals, rural residents, and women. As we continue to adapt to life with COVID-19, any initiative to promote exercise should consider not only health behaviors but also issues of access and equity to maximize the positive health impact of physical activity.
*23andMe’s COVID-19 study is made possible through the participation of more than a million of our customers who consented to answer survey questions for this research. But this study also involves the hard work of a core team of our health researchers, program/product managers, data scientists, engineers and geneticists. Among them are: Michelle Agee, Amanda Altman, Stella Aslibekyan, Adam Auton, Jess Bielenberg, Adrian Chubb, Daniella Coker, Raffaello d’Amore, Scott Dvorak, Alison Fitch, Scott Hadly, Pooja Jain, Andy Kill, Trung Le, John Matthews, Jey McCreight, Taylor Morrow, Sungmin Park, Jeff Pollard, Anjali Shastri, Janie Shelton, Teresa Filshtein Sonmez, Jason Tan, Lindsey Tran, Cat Weldon, Chelsea Ye, Yiwen Zheng

Stepping Back Up Amid COVID-19

This week 23andMe scientists <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.04.20188318v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">published findings</a> from the first four months of our COVID-19 study using data from more than a million research participants that found both genetic and non-genetic associations for susceptibility and severity to COVID-19.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28208 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-300x300.jpg" alt="A image of the globe and the double helix to represent those who have opted into participate in research on COVID-19" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-880x880.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-574x574.jpg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16-980x980.jpg 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1080x1080-COVID-IG-Copy-16.jpg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The findings will be shared with researchers around the world as part of what has become an unprecedented effort among scientists looking for new treatments for the virus. Part of 23andMe’s motivation for this study was to leverage our unique research model to quickly find insights that could be shared with others working toward treatments.
Because the intent was to quickly make this data available, many of these findings have been shared in the months since the study began.
<h6>Genetic Associations with COVID-19</h6>
But the publication this week also includes data strengthening an association between severe respiratory complications and a specific variant in the gene cluster in chromosome 3. This region includes several different genes (SLC6A20, LZFTL1, CCR9, CXCR6, XCR1, and FYCO1). Some play a role in the immune response to infection in the lungs. The gene SLC6A20, may play a role in the expression of the ACE2 protein which in turn could lead to greater viral uptake.
Along with this genetic association, 23andMe’s researchers found strong evidence for the role of the ABO blood group for both the severity and susceptibility to COVID-19. Our findings, which were shared previously, underscore<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/blood-type-and-covid-19/"> the role of blood type in COVID-19</a> infections, specifically that blood type O might be protective against the virus. The significance of this association may be related to the role of blood clotting complications in cases of people with COVID-19.
<h6>Non-Genetic Associations for COVID-19</h6>
23andMe’s research also revealed many non-genetic associations that replicated other studies including the finding that<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/impact-disparities-of-covid-19/"> Black and Latino populations</a> have been hit much harder than white communities.
For Latinos, the higher rates of hospitalization were consistent with higher rates of infection, according to 23andMe’s data. But for Black research participants, the risk of hospitalization was disproportionately high and remained that way when adjusted for socioeconomic factors as well as age, sex, and for several underlying health conditions like type 2 diabetes or hypertension.
Our data showed that Black research participants were 83 percent more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to European respondents after adjustment for age, sex, socioeconomic status, body mass index, and a pre-existing condition.
23andMe’s researchers also found other risk factors for hospitalization noting that men required hospitalization more often than women. The same for those who were older and poorer.
In addition, 23andMe found that certain underlying chronic health conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes significantly increased the risk for hospitalization for COVID-19. Being overweight increased the risk for hospitalization by about 34 percent over those with normal body mass index.
<h6>We’re All in This Together</h6>
This pandemic impacts all humanity, and as such it has fueled an unprecedented level of scientific collaboration across the globe. 23andMe and its team of scientists, researchers, and engineers chose to become part of this effort early on, engaging the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">23andMe research</a> platform to quickly recruit research participants and study this novel disease.
In less than four months more than a million 23andMe customers consented to participate, of those more than 15,000 had tested positive for COVID-19, with 1,100 of them suffering symptoms that required hospitalizations. Through their participation, and during a highly compressed timeline, our researchers were able to make new findings, replicate others, and contribute to the larger effort by other researchers who are searching for treatments. (23andMe is still recruiting individuals who have been hospitalized for COVID-19. You can find out more <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19-study/">here</a>.)
We are now sharing these findings through a full-set of de-identified summary statistics that will be made available to qualified investigators. Those investigators will have to enter into an agreement with 23andMe to protect participant confidentiality. Interested investigators should visit the following: <a href="https://research.23andme.com/covid19-dataset-access/">https://research.23andme.com/covid19-dataset-access/</a>
<hr />
*23andMe’s COVID-19 study is made possible through the participation of more than a million of our customers who consented to answer survey questions for this research. But this study also involves the hard work of a core team of our health researchers, program/product managers, data scientists, engineers, and geneticists. Among them are: Michelle Agee, Amanda Altman, Stella Aslibekyan, Adam Auton, Jess Bielenberg, Adrian Chubb, Daniella Coker, Raffaello d’Amore, Scott Dvorak, Alison Fitch, Scott Hadly, Pooja Gandhi, Andy Kill, Trung Le, John Matthews, Jennifer McCreight, Taylor Morrow, Sungmin Park, Jeff Pollard, Anjali Shastri, Janie Shelton, Teresa Filshtein Sonmez, Jason Tan, Lindsey Tran, Cat Weldon, Chelsea Ye, Yiwen Zheng

23andMe COVID-19 Study Findings Published

According to a new study from 23andMe and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy, most people have at least one genetic variant in the CYP2C19 gene that may alter how our bodies process certain commonly used medications. Most people don&#8217;t know about these variants because this kind of <a href="https://www.23andme.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic testing</a>, called pharmacogenetic (&#8220;farm-uh-ko-genetic&#8221;) testing, isn&#8217;t yet widely used.
The 23andMe study, published in the online journal Clinical and Translational Science, confirms previous smaller studies and underscores the potential benefit that widespread preemptive pharmacogenetic testing could have.
&#8220;Our study reaffirms how common these variants are in how we metabolize certain medicines and how many people could benefit from knowing about them,&#8221; said Alison Chubb. &#8220;This is information they could share with their doctor if they ever need one of the relevant medications.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28452" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CYP2C19-Variants-By-Ethnicity-300x169.png" alt="This graphic shows how common the CYP2C19 varaints are among 23andMe customers of different ethnicities." width="400" height="225" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CYP2C19-Variants-By-Ethnicity-300x169.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CYP2C19-Variants-By-Ethnicity-1024x576.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CYP2C19-Variants-By-Ethnicity-768x432.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CYP2C19-Variants-By-Ethnicity-880x495.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CYP2C19-Variants-By-Ethnicity-1180x664.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CYP2C19-Variants-By-Ethnicity.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /> 
Alison is a Senior Product Scientist at 23andMe and senior author of the study.
The study follows an FDA 510(k) clearance that modifies the agency’s previous clearance of 23andMe’s CYP2C19 Drug Metabolism report by removing the need for confirmatory testing and allowing the company to provide interpretive drug information based on genetic factors for two medicines: clopidogrel and citalopram.
<h2>CYP2C19 and Drug Metabolism</h2>
Regarding medicines, we know that one size doesn&#8217;t necessarily fit all. People may respond differently to the same medicine due to factors like age, weight, liver and kidney function, diet, or even other medicines they might be taking. However, genetic factors also play a role in some medicines, and the CYP2C19 (often pronounced &#8220;sip-two-see-19&#8221;) gene is one example.
The <a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CYP2C19">CYP2C19 gene</a> provides the instructions for making the CYP2C19 enzyme, primarily found in the liver, and helps the body process (or &#8220;metabolize&#8221;) important medications. For example, clopidogrel is a blood thinner for treating and preventing heart attacks, while citalopram is an antidepressant. The enzyme also helps process over-the-counter treatments for acid reflux and ulcers called proton pump inhibitors.
Specific inherited variants in the CYP2C19 gene impact how well the CYP2C19 enzyme works. People with these variants may process certain medicines faster or slower than usual, affecting how well the medicines work or the chances they&#8217;ll cause side effects. For a few medications, the potential impact of CYP2C19 variants is so strong that the FDA-authorized drug labels include a warning or dosing recommendation based on CYP2C19 genotype. To help summarize these actionable gene-drug effects, the FDA has recently published a helpful <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/precision-medicine/table-pharmacogenetic-associations">table of pharmacogenetic associations</a> for healthcare providers that includes CYP2C19 and other genes.
<h2>23andMe Study Details</h2>
Researchers wanted to know just how common CYP2C19 variants are among 23andMe participants who have consented to research and how someone&#8217;s ancestry affects their chance of having one. The study looked at the distribution of the three most common CYP2C19 variants across nine self-reported ancestry groups. It found that almost 60% of the 2.29 million participants had at least one variant that could affect how they process certain medicines.
Two of the variants studied result in a CYP2C19 enzyme with decreased activity, and people with these variants may process some medicines slower than average. These variants were most common in participants with East Asian, South Asian, and Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander ancestry.
In contrast, the third variant that researchers looked at results in a CYP2C19 enzyme with more activity than normal, so some people with this variant may process certain medicines faster than normal. This variant was most common in people of European, African American, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Middle Eastern descent.
<h2>Real World Impact</h2>
Although people of Hispanic or Latino descent had the lowest rate of CYP2C19 variants compared to other groups, they still had a 50% chance of having at least one variant. The take-home message is that these pharmacogenetic variants are common across all ancestries, which is quite different from the distribution of many disease-related genetic variants that are often rare and ancestry-specific.
But what is the potential real-world impact of these findings?
To answer that, we need to know how many people actually use the medicines that depend on CYP2C19 metabolism. To get insight into this question, the researchers looked at prescription rates in the UCSF health system (2012-2019). They found that about 16% of patients had been prescribed one or more medications metabolized by CYP2C19. They then extrapolated from the 23andMe variant frequencies. They calculated that more than 120,000 prescriptions in the UCSF system were likely written for people with non-normal CYP2C19 metabolism. In addition, those patients might have benefited from knowing about their CYP2C19 variants before they started their medicines. This would have allowed them to discuss with their doctors the available options based on their genetic results.
<h2>Pharmacogenetics Reports at 23andMe</h2>
In October 2018, the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/23andme-granted-the-first-and-only-fda-authorization-for-direct-to-consumer-pharmacogenetics-reports/">FDA granted 23andMe authorization</a> to report CYP2C19 variants and predicted metabolizer status directly to consumers. We were also able to include variants in seven other genes that also impact drug metabolism. The initial 23andMe Pharmacogenetics* reports, including the CYP2C19 Drug Metabolism report, will be available later this year.
_____________________________________________________________________
<h6>NOTE</h6>
*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect 6 variants in 3 genes in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva to report and interpret information about the processing of certain therapeutics to inform discussions with a healthcare professional. It does not describe if a person will or will not respond to a particular therapeutic and does not describe the association between detected variants and any specific therapeutic. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting with independent genetic testing before taking any medical action.  
Warning: Test information should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment and does not test for all possible variants that may affect metabolism or protein function. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional. Making changes to your current regimen can lead to harmful side effects or reduced intended benefits of your medication, therefore consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medical action. For a complete list of the 6 variants tested.

Common Genetic Variants Impact Drug Processing

Powered by almost 6,000 consented research participants, 23andMe’s Lupus Research study helped our scientists learn more about this difficult to treat and chronic autoimmune disease.
Researchers from 23andMe and our collaborators at Pfizer were able to replicate known <a href="https://www.23andme.com/genetic-science/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic associations</a> for lupus, but, unfortunately, they did not uncover any new genetic associations.
Even though this study is one of the world’s largest genetic studies of lupus to date, it may not have been large enough to detect novel associations. We know genetics plays a significant role in the risk for the condition, and our study found that about 28 percent of those who participated in this research also had a first-degree relative — a parent, child, or sibling — who has lupus.
Beyond that, 23andMe did uncover deeper insights into non-genetic factors and symptoms associated with the disease. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28428 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1st-degree-relative-1-300x224.png" alt="" width="300" height="224" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1st-degree-relative-1-300x224.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1st-degree-relative-1-1024x763.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1st-degree-relative-1-768x572.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1st-degree-relative-1-880x656.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1st-degree-relative-1-1180x879.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1st-degree-relative-1.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
“While new genetic factors were not uncovered, the information from the surveys provide insight, in some cases validating what we hear anecdotally,” said Diane Gross, National Director of Advocacy and Programs, <a href="https://www.lupusresearch.org/">Lupus Research Alliance (LRA).</a>
A non-profit, LRA, helps fund innovative lupus research to improve diagnosis and treatment.
“This information should be very helpful to people with lupus and their support networks,” said Gross. “While every case of lupus is different, it is important for people to understand they are not alone. It can also be useful for healthcare providers to understand some of the most common symptoms people experience so when a patient shows up in their office reporting these symptoms, they think about lupus. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to slow the pace of the damage from the disease”
Now that 23andMe’s study is closed, our researchers wanted to share some of what we’ve learned.
<h6>Important Demographics</h6>
The size of the study meant that a much larger number of people from underrepresented populations participated than in previous studies.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28441 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/race-300x195.png" alt="" width="300" height="195" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/race-300x195.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/race-1024x667.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/race-768x500.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/race-880x573.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/race-1180x769.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/race.png 2038w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Lupus disproportionately impacts women of color. In fact, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than white women, according to the<a href="https://www.lupus.org/resources/lupus-facts-and-statistics"> Lupus Foundation of America</a>. Most of 23andMe’s Lupus study participants are women, and about 9 percent are Black, about 21 percent are multi-racial, just under 2 percent are Asian and about 68 percent are white.
While the study isn’t fully reflective of the population with lupus, the initiative includes the largest number of Blacks in a genetic study of lupus ever conducted.
<h6>Difficult to Diagnose</h6>
One of the many confounding aspects of the disease is that it can impact almost any part of the body — the skin, joints, or various organs. The body’s own immune system attacks tissues and organs, and that, in turn, results in inflammation. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28438 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/diagnosis-300x195.png" alt="" width="300" height="195" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/diagnosis-300x195.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/diagnosis-1024x667.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/diagnosis-768x500.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/diagnosis-880x573.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/diagnosis-1180x769.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/diagnosis.png 2038w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
This varied aspect of the disease may also explain why it was difficult to identify any new genetic associations. It is possible that a much larger cohort than 5,000 people is needed to find additional genetic associations for the disease. In addition, because lupus presents in so many different ways — often with symptoms that are similar to other diseases — it is difficult to diagnose.
That certainly was seen in our study.
Participants reported that on average it took about six years from when they first started experiencing symptoms to the first diagnosis of lupus by a doctor.  This can be incredibly frustrating for those struggling with symptoms, but unsure of what is causing them.
<h6>Devastating Impacts</h6>
Beyond how long it can take to diagnose the disease, lupus takes an incredible toll on one’s body, which we also saw in the data.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="710" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/skin_conditions-1-1024x710.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28442" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/skin_conditions-1-1024x710.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/skin_conditions-1-300x208.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/skin_conditions-1-768x533.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/skin_conditions-1-880x611.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/skin_conditions-1-1180x819.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/skin_conditions-1.png 2038w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
Almost all our participants reported numerous different symptoms, ranging from loss of hair, sores in the mouth and nose, and rashes or blotching of the skin. Two-thirds of participants had sores in their mouth or nose, and a similar percentage reported having skin reactions after being in the sun. About 60 percent of participants had rashes on their cheeks, and a third saw blisters or bullae on their skin. Finally, 22 percent reported that lupus left them with scarring lesions.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="710" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/body-1024x710.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28440" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/body-1024x710.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/body-300x208.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/body-768x533.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/body-880x611.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/body-1180x819.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/body.png 2038w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28422 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/06232016_lupusQ2_OldDot_V2-296x300.png" alt="" width="296" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/06232016_lupusQ2_OldDot_V2-296x300.png 296w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/06232016_lupusQ2_OldDot_V2.png 507w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px" />
Those were just the skin-related symptoms. The vast majority of those in our study, 87 percent, experienced joint or muscle pain when first diagnosed with lupus. 77 percent experienced joint or muscle pain during the duration of the study.
Illustrating just how serious this illness is, just under half of those in the survey, 49 percent, said they experienced a flare-up of disease-related symptoms in the last year. Known within the lupus community simply as “flares,” only 5 percent of participants reported no flares during the previous 12 months.
Taken together these symptoms are serious enough that 43 percent of our participants reported that <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28416 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/number-of-flares-225x300.png" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/number-of-flares-225x300.png 225w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/number-of-flares.png 384w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />their lupus-related symptoms required hospitalization at some point. Many had infections serious enough to require treatment with antibiotics, with about 28 percent reporting getting an antibiotic injection and about 27 percent receiving such treatment intravenously.
These symptoms also make it harder to day-in-and-day-out, meaning that 71 percent of participants said lupus impacted their ability to work.
<h6>Lupus and Other Conditions </h6>
Simply dealing with lupus and its many symptoms can also undercut one’s health in other ways.
Our data show a significant association between those diagnosed with lupus and poor sleep quality, for instance, which has its own impact on one’s health and well-being. About 44 percent said that along with lupus they’d been diagnosed with high blood pressure. About 30% said they’d been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at some point.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="377" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/other-conditions.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28423" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/other-conditions.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/other-conditions-300x221.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
And most telling in how devastating lupus can be, 27 percent of our Lupus Research Study participants, reported that they had been diagnosed with depression or major depressive disorder since being diagnosed with lupus. In fact, lupus patients are at four times greater risk of having major depression when compared to those without the disease among 23andMe research participants.
<h6>What’s Next?</h6>
We started this work more than four years ago with the hope that it could aid those searching for better ways to treat lupus. This study shows that there is still much to be done to find new treatments. We hope the information shared in this post is useful to all those interested in learning more about the experience of those with lupus. The more we understand about not just the genetics of lupus but also the differences in how the disease develops in different people, the closer we will get to understanding how best to treat it.
Thank you to all those who participated in 23andMe’s Lupus Research study, and who made this work possible.

New Insights from Lupus Research

By Daniella Coker, MPH, Scientist at 23andMe*
23andMe’s research into COVID-19 reveals that amid the pandemic between April and June, adherence to social distancing measures waned, echoing findings from other researchers. But in July as COVID cases spiked, more people heeded public health recommendations about distancing.
After taking into consideration a range of factors, certain personality types are more (or less) likely to practice social distancing.
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• Highly extraverted people are less likely to practice social distancing.
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• People who are highly agreeable or open to experience are more likely to practice social distancing.
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• Adherence to social distancing decreased between April and June but has since begun to increase.
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• Older people were more likely than younger people to practice social distancing.
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These are just a couple of the dozens of new findings 23andMe scientists have discovered looking at data from more than 1,000,000 people who are participating in <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19-study/">23andMe’s COVID-19 research study.</a> Since the study’s launch in April, 23andMe has released a range of findings from the data, including that <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/blood-type-and-covid-19/">O blood type appears</a> to be protective against susceptibility for COVID-19 and that <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/activity-changes-during-covid/">physical activity has decreased</a> since shelter-in-place orders began.
23andMe’s COVID-19 research study presented an opportunity to also understand social distancing behavior within our research participants &#8211; Who is social distancing? Where are people social distancing more or less? How has adherence changed over the course of this pandemic?
<h6>Geography and Social Distancing</h6>
Adherence differs greatly from state to state, but between April and June in most states, adherence to social distancing decreased. Adherence was generally lowest in Mountain states and Southern states, where the proportion of study participants who practiced social distancing decreased from 84-89 percent in April to as low as 78 percent June. Even in states on the West Coast and in the Northeast, where compliance with social distancing was among the highest in the country, compliance decreased from 91-93 percent in April to approximately 88 percent by June.
However, our data shows that between June and July, adherence to social distancing began to increase across the country, potentially in response to the resurgence of infections during this time.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="288" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Map-social-distancing.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28394" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Map-social-distancing.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Map-social-distancing-300x169.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h6></h6>
<h6>Age and Social Distancing</h6>
Beyond geography, 23andMe data showed that older people, those over 50, were generally more likely than younger people to practice social distancing. In fact, for nearly every 10-year increment in age (e.g., 20-somethings, 30-somethings, etc.), there was an increase in the proportion of individuals who practiced social distancing.
It was also found that in almost all age groups, adherence to social distancing fell from April to June, only to jump back up in July. Yet, even in the youngest groups, the majority of people said they adhered to social distancing rules.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="278" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/social-distancing-and-age.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28395" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/social-distancing-and-age.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/social-distancing-and-age-300x163.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Personality and Social Distancing</h6>
Personality traits appear to play a role in adherence. Even after taking into account age, sex, essential worker status, relative zipcode density, and other factors, individuals who are gregarious, adventurous, prone to anger, and/or, friendly were less likely to adhere to social distancing. At the same time, those who were more liberal, artistic, sympathetic, and altruistic were more likely to socially distance. These findings are based on the responses of over 100,000 COVID-19 research participants who had also completed 23andMe survey questions that help assess character traits.
These and other traits can be grouped under one of the <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/big-5-personality-traits">“Big Five” personality traits</a> used in the field of psychology. 

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="338" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-big-five.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28396" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-big-five.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-big-five-300x198.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
The above figure is based on Psychology Today’s <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/big-5-personality-traits">“Big 5 Personality Traits”</a>
Another way to look at these findings is that highly extraverted people were less likely to socially distance, whereas highly open or agreeable people were more likely to adhere.&nbsp; 1,2 

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="312" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/personality-traits-less-likely.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28397" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/personality-traits-less-likely.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/personality-traits-less-likely-300x183.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
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<h6>What does personality have to do with it?</h6>
There are a couple of possible <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/personality-traits-explain-whether-you-follow-or-flout-coronavirus-mask-wearing-and-social-distancing-guidelines-11594822706">explanations</a> for these specific findings.
The mandates for social distancing have upended many aspects of our lives, including our ability to physically interact with family and friends. <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/extroversion">Extraverts are typically highly sociable individuals who “recharge” from being with others</a>; their very nature is at odds with the demands of social distancing, and therefore they may be finding adherence to be particularly challenging. A study in <a href="https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S2237-60892020005005201">Brazil</a> similarly found that during the first month of the pandemic, higher scores for extraversion were associated with less social distancing.
A couple facets of neuroticism, anger, and vulnerability, were also among those personality traits associated with less social distancing. Research has shown that highly neurotic people tend to use <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792076/">more emotion-focused</a>, rather than problem-focused, approaches for coping with stress. Therefore, perhaps individuals who are prone to anger or feelings of vulnerability are more likely to respond to the stress of the pandemic emotionally, such as by <a href="https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/why-some-people-wont-practice-social-distancing">tuning out or defying guidance</a>. <code> </code>
Highly agreeable people tend to focus on the <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/agreeableness">needs of others</a>. Much of the messaging around the pandemic has relied on a sense of community (e.g., “Stay Home. Save Lives”), so perhaps this tone of social responsibility has resonated more closely with this group of people. As for those who are highly open, it may be their tendency for being more receptive to new ideas and comfortable in unfamiliar circumstances that has contributed to an ability to adapt to this new experience of social distancing.
Other studies that have examined associations between personality and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic have produced similar results. <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/chgkn/">Blagov’s</a> study of U.S adults found that agreeableness and conscientiousness predicted endorsement of social distancing. In addition, a study of <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340104486_Individual_differences_in_accepting_personal_restrictions_to_fight_the_COVID-19_pandemic_Results_from_a_Danish_adult_sample">Danish</a> participants showed that people who are highly emotional &#8211; a facet of openness &#8211; were more likely to accept personal restrictions to protect others from the virus.
Social distancing has remained one of society’s primary tools to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Analysis of 23andMe’s more than 1,000,000 COVID-19 study participants has shown that while a majority practice social distancing, differences persist when adherence is examined by age, time, geography, and even personality. Understanding these patterns of behavior can provide insight on how to address social distancing with different segments of the population.
*23andMe’s COVID-19 study is made possible through the participation of more than a million of our customers who consented to answer survey questions for this research. But this study also involves the hard work of a core team of our health researchers, program/product managers, data scientists, engineers and geneticists. Among them are: Michelle Agee, Amanda Altman, Stella Aslibekyan, Adam Auton, Jess Bielenberg, Adrian Chubb, Daniella Coker, Raffaello d’Amore, Scott Dvorak, Alison Fitch, Scott Hadly, Pooja Gandhi, Andy Kill, Trung Le, John Matthews, Jey McCreight, Taylor Morrow, Sungmin Park, Jeff Pollard, Anjali Shastri, Janie Shelton, Teresa Filshtein Sonmez, Jason Tan, Lindsey Tran, Cat Weldon, Chelsea Ye, Yiwen Zheng
**These analyses were limited to 18+-year-old participants in the United States.

Research — Page 18