Most of us have at least one genetic variant that may alter how our bodies process certain commonly prescribed medications. Yet, very few of us know about it.
That’s because genetic testing for these variants, also known as <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/pharmacogenetics/">pharmacogenetic</a> testing, is rare. But these genetic differences can impact how a person responds to certain prescribed medications.
<h6>CYP2C19 Drug Metabolism Medication Insights</h6>
This week 23andMe released two new Medication Insight reports* as part of our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership?ada=on">23andMe+</a> Membership. The membership offers more than ten new reports and features throughout the calendar year giving members even deeper insights into their health. 23andMe remains the first and only direct-to-consumer company with FDA-authorized pharmacogenetic reports.
Our two new reports provide medication insights on how a person’s <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/pharmacogenetics/cyp2c19/">CYP2C19 metabolizer profile</a> may impact citalopram and <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/the-debate-over-clopidogrel-continues">clopidogrel therapy</a>. The reports look at clopidogrel, a blood thinner, and an antidepressant, citalopram. About 22 million people in the US are prescribed citalopram.<a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> About 20 million have prescriptions for clopidogrel.<a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a> <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/pharmacogenetics-report">23andMe’s FDA clearance</a> of these new reports also removes the need for confirmatory testing in a clinical setting for specific CYP2C19 outcomes. The reports explicitly state that customers should consult their healthcare provider before making any changes to their medications.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28527 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-231x300.png" alt="23andMe mobile pharmacogenomics" width="231" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-231x300.png 231w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-790x1024.png 790w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-768x996.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-679x880.png 679w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home-910x1180.png 910w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PGt-Home.png 1583w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px" />
The <a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CYP2C19">CYP2C19 gene</a> provides the instructions for making the<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/variants-and-drug-processing"> CYP2C19 enzyme</a>, which helps the liver process (or “metabolize”) important medications. The enzyme also helps to process other medications such as over-the-counter treatments for acid reflux and ulcers, called proton pump inhibitors.
Last year 23andMe in collaboration with UCSF published research confirming just how common some of these variants are. Our research indicates that for about 30 percent of our customers, clopidogrel will be “likely less effective.” For East Asian and South Asian customers, it’s more than half who’ll see that result. About 3 percent of customers have an “increased chance of side effects” result for citalopram. Among East Asians and South Asians the percentage is between 10 percent and 12 percent.
<h6>Actionable Results</h6>
These new reports are part of 23andMe’s larger offering of Pharmacogenetic Reports* on three genes that impact a total of 11 medications. Together they offer 23andMe+ members a new class of reports, giving them deeper insight into their health. The results are among the most highly actionable genetic reports consumers can receive.
It has long been known that genetics influences why people respond differently to certain medications. But it is very rare for people to learn about those differences before they’ve already been prescribed a medication.
The study by researchers from 23andMe in collaboration with UCSF found that the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7719394/">majority of people</a> have at least one genetic variant in the CYP2C19 gene that impacts how the body processes certain medications, including clopidogrel and citalopram. Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin.2021.01.024">a meta-analysis showed</a> that patients with loss-of-function variants in the CYP2C19 gene had a 30 percent reduction in ischemic events — including heart attacks and strokes — when treated with alternative antiplatelet medications, including ticagrelor or prasugrel, versus clopidogrel.
Our own research indicates that 70 percent of 23andMe customers would receive a potentially actionable result from our pharmacogenetic reports.<a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a>
<h6>Knowledge is Power</h6>
When it comes to medicines, we know that one size doesn’t necessarily fit all. Different people may respond differently to the same medicine due to factors like their age, weight, liver and kidney function, diet, or even other medicines they might be taking.
And we also know that for many medications, genetic factors also play an important role. Through our research and through the work of other scientists we’ve learned how common it is for people to have genetic variants that affect how we metabolize certain medicines. People could potentially benefit from knowing that they metabolize some medications differently than others.
23andMe’s Pharmacogenetic Reports offer consumers a chance to learn about these differences, and then to share that information with their healthcare provider so that they are better able to prescribe the right medicine at the right dose. Customers should not use their results to start, stop or change their medications without first consulting their healthcare provider.
If you are not yet a 23andMe+ member you can find out more <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership">here</a>. 
<code></code>References:<code> 
</code><a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> ClinCalc.com “Top 300 Drugs of 2021”; <a href=" https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Top300Drugs.aspx "> https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Top300Drugs.aspx </a><code> 
</code><code></code> <a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a> Ibid.
<footer class="footnotes"><code> </code><a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a> <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.140.suppl_1.16081">https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.140.suppl_1.16081</a><code> 
</code><a>&gt; </a></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"></footer>
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<h6>Note:</h6>
*23andMe PGS Pharmacogenetic reports: The 23andMe test uses qualitative genotyping to detect 3 variants in the CYP2C19 gene, 2 variants in the DPYD gene and 1 variant in the SLCO1B1 gene in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting 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. Our CYP2C19 Pharmacogenetic report provides certain information about variants associated with metabolism of some therapeutics and provides interpretive drug information regarding the potential effect of citalopram and clopidogrel therapy. Results for SLCO1B1 and DPYD and certain CYP2C19 results should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your own healthcare provider before taking any medical action.  
<h6>Warning: </h6>
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 important information and limitations regarding Pharmacogentic reports, visit www.23andme.com/test-info.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Two New Medication Insight Reports for 23andMe+ Members

For many people, sniffling, sneezing, and rubbing itchy eyes is a rite of spring.
Pollen wafting through the air from budding trees, grasses, and flowers during spring triggers allergy attacks for millions of people worldwide. <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/118/7/e2013284118">A recent study</a> indicated that climate change might be making the situation even worse for some due to the lengthening of the pollen season in North America.
Susceptibility to allergies — not just from pollen but also to things such as insect bites, dander from dogs and cats, or mold — is in part genetic. One&#8217;s environment also plays an important role in developing allergies. One silver lining of the last year is that mask-wearing during the pandemic appears to help lessen allergy symptoms in some, according to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7467086/">recent research </a>done in Israel.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="678" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-1024x678.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26180" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-300x198.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-768x508.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-880x582.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze-1180x781.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sneeze.jpg 1259w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Researching the Genetics</h6>
Allergic reactions themselves happen when a hypersensitive immune system mistakes a normally harmless substance for a harmful one. When the immune system detects these so-called allergens, it triggers an immune response meant to protect the body. Research indicates that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16083793/">about half</a> of those living in the U.S. are sensitive to at least one common allergen. While most allergic reactions are mild, some contribute to asthma or eczema and can be very serious and even life-threatening.
23andMe scientists and our collaborators have identified many genetic variants associated with allergies over the years. We also published studies on the genetic <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0157-1">pathways for allergic rhinitis</a>, genetic associations between <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ng.3985">allergies, eczema, and asthma</a>, and the age of <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1008725">onset</a>. That work allows us to understand not just the underlying causes better, but also offers researchers potential new targets for treatments. 

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="264" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Dog-Cat-.001-1024x264.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-28847" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Dog-Cat-.001-1024x264.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Dog-Cat-.001-300x77.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Dog-Cat-.001-768x198.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Dog-Cat-.001-880x227.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Dog-Cat-.001.jpeg 1055w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Cats and Dogs</h6>
People with allergies to dogs or cats react to the proteins found in animals’ saliva, their skin cells (also called &#8220;dander&#8221;), or urine. Those allergens trigger a response of the body&#8217;s immune system leading to sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and itchy skin. In some cases, people with dog or cat allergies may experience asthma symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or wheezing. For people with dog or cat allergies, lifestyle modifications and other treatments, including medications, can help ease symptoms.
It is estimated that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5809771/">10 percent-to-20 percent of people</a> are allergic to dogs or cats worldwide.
For 23andMe customers who want to explore a little deeper into their genetic likelihood of having certain allergies, we offer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership">23andMe+</a>, an annual membership with 10+ exclusive reports and features delivered to you throughout the year‡.
Those reports are powered by 23andMe research and include new Wellness reports on cat allergies and on dog allergies. Both use statistical modeling that utilizes thousands of genetic variants, as well as a customer&#8217;s ethnicity and sex to estimate the likelihood of developing a dog or cat allergy.
<h6>Pets and Pollen</h6>
For those with pet allergies, preventing reactions isn&#8217;t as simple as you&#8217;d think. It&#8217;s not just about avoiding dogs and cats because pet allergens can travel easily through the air. They can stick to clothing and other surfaces, quickly spreading from place to place. In the United States, about half of households <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28694047/">own a cat or a dog</a>. Yet, studies have shown that detectable levels of pet allergens can be found in almost all homes, even ones that don&#8217;t own pets. High levels of pet allergens have also been found in public places like schools, offices, buses, and trains. To prevent reactions, experts recommend washing hands and clothes frequently.
Allergies to cats and dogs and allergies to pollens are alike in some ways. They are very similar in how they make their way into the body, what symptoms they cause, and how you treat them, for instance.
<h6>Finding Out More</h6>
Find out more about 23andMe&#8217;s Health + Ancestry Service or 23andMe+ membership <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry?sub=ver2&amp;cabt=nao">here</a>.
‡10+ reports and features will be added annually from January to December.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="536" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1200x628-2-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28846" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1200x628-2-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1200x628-2-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1200x628-2-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1200x628-2-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1200x628-2-1180x618.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1200x628-2.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>

23andMe+ new Cat and Dog Allergy report release

The Genetics of Allergies

It’s not a superpower, but the genetics behind being what some call a “supertaster” might make for a pretty good argument against eating your broccoli.
Supertasters have the good fortune, or misfortune, of having highly refined taste receptors. And that discerning palate is genetic.<code style="display: none;"></code><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-19352" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Tasting-Photo-238x300.jpg" alt="A woman tasting from a spoon." width="238" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Tasting-Photo-238x300.jpg 238w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Tasting-Photo.jpg 617w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px" />
<h2>Technicolor Taste</h2>
Supertasters, who make up about a quarter of the population, live in a kind of high-definition technicolor world of taste. For most of the rest of us, it&#8217;s a more monochrome world of flavors. That can be both a good and a bad thing. Supertasters’ refined palate means that they have a heightened bitter taste perception, for instance. Their heightened tastes make salty foods seem saltier, and sweet foods sweeter.
There are a few things going on.
For one, studies have shown that supertasters actually have more fungiform papillae. These are the mushroom-shaped projections on which our taste buds lay. On those taste buds are receptors that specialize in detecting five basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami, a savory, meat-like taste. Scientists think some people may be unable to detect certain chemicals based on what taste receptors they have.
<h2>Bitter Taste</h2>
Along with more taste receptors crowded onto their tongues, genetics is at play. Supertasters also tend to have a variant in the<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18209019/"> TAS2R38 gene</a> that enables them to perceive the bitterness of the chemical called &#8220;PTC.&#8221; PTC isn&#8217;t usually found in the human diet, but it is similar to chemicals present in vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts.
23andMe’s Bitter Taste trait report looks at a customer’s likelihood of tasting bitterness.
A small study published several years ago in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked specifically at individuals who were called “moderate tasters.” Scientists looked at how the expression of their TAS2R38 genes related to their perceptions of bitterness. Bitter taste perception correlated with the amount of TAS2R38 gene expressed in the subjects’ taste buds, according to the research. The gene expression also correlated with self-reported caffeine consumption, though not as strongly.
For the quarter of people who are supertasters, a coffee, or an IPA beer might be harshly bitter. But about a third of the population who have very low taste perception, may not notice any bitterness at all. Most of the rest of us fall somewhere in between. Such stark differences in how we perceive taste are programmed into our DNA.
<h2>Learn More</h2>
23andMe customers can find their Bitter Taste trait report. Not yet a customer? Find out more<a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/?sub=ver2&amp;cabt=nao"> here</a>.

Tasty Genetics of a Supertaster

23andMe recently added a new report on pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that can result in chronic anemia and other serious complications.*
This new Carrier Status report looks at one variant in the PKLR gene linked to PK deficiency. The inherited condition is autosomal recessive, meaning that a person must inherit two variants in the PKLR gene, or two copies of a variant (one from each parent), to develop the condition.
The report is meant to offer customers an opportunity to learn about their family’s potential risk for PK deficiency, while also raising awareness about this rare <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry">inherited condition</a>.
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 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="915" height="513" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/PKLR.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28808" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/PKLR.jpg 915w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/PKLR-300x168.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/PKLR-768x431.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/PKLR-880x493.jpg 880w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 915px) 100vw, 915px" /></figure>
 
<h6>More About PK Deficiency</h6>
The PKLR gene contains instructions for making the PK enzyme, which is found mostly in red blood cells and liver cells. This enzyme is crucial in breaking down glucose and producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy source for the human body. Certain variants in the PKLR gene can disrupt the <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna_dot_variant_pink-300x300.png" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-25119" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna_dot_variant_pink-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna_dot_variant_pink-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna_dot_variant_pink-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna_dot_variant_pink-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna_dot_variant_pink-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/dna_dot_variant_pink.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />function of the PK enzyme, leading to the premature destruction of red blood cells, and ultimately a type of anemia called hemolytic anemia. <a id="f1" href="#a1">[1,2]</a>
Along with chronic anemia, the other symptoms associated with PK deficiency may include fatigue, jaundice, enlarged spleen, iron overload, and gallstones. <a id="f1" href="#a1">[3,4]</a> While there is no known cure for the condition, treatments for some of the symptoms include blood transfusions, medications to remove excess iron from the blood, and removal of the spleen and gallbladder.<a id="f1" href="#a1">[3,4]</a> Medications that increase the activity of the PK enzyme in red blood cells are also in development, as a way to treat the underlying cause of the condition. <a id="f5" href="#a5">[5]</a>
Because the symptoms of PK deficiency can vary widely and are sometimes mild, the condition may remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. <a id="f1" href="#a1">[1,2]</a> PK deficiency is found in people of many ethnicities, and it’s estimated that the condition affects about 1 in 20,000 people of European descent.<a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a>
<h6>23andMe’s New Report</h6>
23andMe’s new Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Carrier Status report* tests for one variant linked to PK deficiency. However, there are more than 300 variants in the PKLR gene linked to the condition.<a id="f1" href="#a1">[3,6]</a> This means that customers who receive a &#8220;Variant not detected&#8221; result could still have a variant not covered by the test. Because the condition runs in families, 23andMe’s new Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Carrier Status report gives customers an opportunity to learn more about their chances of passing a variant on to their children. For customers with a variant detected, if their partner is also a carrier for PK deficiency, each child has a 25 percent chance of having the condition. In some cases, customers may also learn that, based on their genetic result, they are at risk of developing symptoms of PK deficiency. This in turn gives them a chance to discuss the condition with their healthcare provider, and learn about potential next steps. It is important to note that 23andMe reports are not intended to diagnose any health conditions or to determine the appropriate treatment.
Because of its own commitment to raise awareness about PK deficiency, Agios Pharmaceuticals supported the development of this report. The company, a leader in the development of treatments for cancer and rare genetic diseases, has worked for many years on treatments for PK deficiency, developing a deep understanding of the impact the condition has on patients and their families. The company’s team of scientists, researchers, and patient advocates offered important insight into our development of this report.
The Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Carrier Status report is available to 23andMe Health + Ancestry customers who are genotyped on 23andMe’s V5 chip. 
*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults for the purpose of reporting carrier status and reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. The relevance of each report may vary based on ethnicity. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future or anything about the health of your fetus, or your newborn child&#8217;s risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. The Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency carrier status report is indicated for the detection of the R486W variant in the PKLR gene. The report can tell you if you have two copies of the R486W variant, and if you are at risk of developing symptoms of pyruvate kinase deficiency, but does not describe your overall risk of developing symptoms.
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<h6 class="footnotes">References:</h6>
<footer class="footnotes"><code></code><code></code> <code style="display: none;"> </code><code> </code><a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a> National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). &#8220;Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency.&#8221; Retrieved Oct 27, 2020 from <a href="https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/pyruvate-kinase-deficiency/">https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/pyruvate-kinase-deficiency/</a></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code></code> <a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a> MedlinePlus. &#8220;Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency.&#8221; Retrieved Oct 27, 2020 from <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/pyruvate-kinase-deficiency/">https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/pyruvate-kinase-deficiency/</a>. </footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a> Bianchi P et al. (2019). &#8220;Addressing the diagnostic gaps in pyruvate kinase deficiency: Consensus recommendations on the diagnosis of pyruvate kinase deficiency.&#8221; Am J Hematol. 94(1):149-161. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30358897/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30358897/</a></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code> </code><a href="#a4">[4]</a> Grace RF et al. (2018). &#8220;Clinical spectrum of pyruvate kinase deficiency: data from the Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Natural History Study.&#8221; Blood. 131(20):2183-2192. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29549173/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29549173/</a></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code><code> </code><a href="#a5">[5]</a> Grace RF et al. (2019). &#8220;Safety and Efficacy of Mitapivat in Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency.&#8221; N Engl J Med. 381(10):933-944. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31483964/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31483964/</a></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;"> </code><code> </code><a href="#a6">[6] </a>Bianchi P et al. (2020). &#8220;Genotype-phenotype correlation and molecular heterogeneity in pyruvate kinase deficiency.&#8221; Am J Hematol. 95(5):472-482. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32043619/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32043619/</a><a id="f=6" href="#a6"> 
 
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A New 23andMe Report on Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

Many of us are almost as afraid of standing up and talking in front of a room full of people as getting<a href="https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/research-centers/babbie-center/_files/americas-top-fears-2019.pdf"> attacked by a shark</a> or murdered by a stranger.
While the odds are slim to none, the angst around public speaking is very real. About a quarter of Americans report having a fear of public speaking. If you assumed that simply doing all your talking remotely via Zoom would remove the fear, the last year would tell you otherwise. For some, the intimacy of Zoom actually makes the whole experience that much more<a href="https://theconversation.com/anxious-about-speaking-in-online-classes-and-meetings-here-are-7-tips-to-make-it-easier-144121"> unnerving</a>.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fear-of-Public-Speaking-2-300x252.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-27146" width="300" height="252" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fear-of-Public-Speaking-2-300x252.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fear-of-Public-Speaking-2.jpg 540w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Glossophobia
Genetics plays a small part in a person’s fear of public speaking, also known as<a href="https://www.psycom.net/glossophobia-fear-of-public-speaking"> glossophobia.</a> There isn’t a similarly long Greek-derived word to cover “fear of video chat,” but they both boil down to the same type of anxiety, and they both include symptoms like sweating, rapid heartbeat, and nausea.
23andMe reports on a person’s likelihood of having a fear of public speaking. Using a statistical model and data from more than 870,000 23andMe research participants, our scientists have identified more than 800 genetic markers associated with a fear of public speaking. Using those genetic markers together with non-genetic factors we developed a statistical model to estimate the likelihood of having a fear of public speaking. Among the non-genetic factors, we looked at are such things as age and sex.
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 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fear-of-public-speaking-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27145" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fear-of-public-speaking-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fear-of-public-speaking-300x199.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fear-of-public-speaking-768x511.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fear-of-public-speaking-880x585.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fear-of-public-speaking-1180x784.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fear-of-public-speaking.jpg 1256w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6></h6>
<h6>Mic Check</h6>
The report is among more than 30 interesting Trait reports available to<a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry"> 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service</a> customers. These reports often spark curiosity and allow customers to explore more about the science and garner fun genetic insights of their own. Most recently we added reports on<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/23andme-steps-out-with-two-new-trait-reports/"> Bunions and Flat Feet</a>, and have others on such things as<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/itching-to-see-23andmes-new-trait-reports/"> Mosquito Bite Frequency</a> and<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/itching-to-see-23andmes-new-trait-reports/"> Fear of Heights</a>.
Fear of public speaking doesn’t present any serious health consequences, it can hamper career advancement or your speech at your best friend’s wedding. It’s linked to our natural fight or flight response. Understanding the biology may offer insights into other anxiety-related conditions. About 43 percent of 23andMe customers participating in research report having a fear of public speaking. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to<a href="https://www.psycom.net/glossophobia-fear-of-public-speaking#actionsteps"> overcome a fear of public speaking</a>.
Before their next<a href="https://www.toastmasters.org/"> Toastmaster</a> mic check, 23andMe Health + Ancestry customers can check out their  Fear of Public Speaking Report. Just go to your<a href="https://you.23andme.com/health/trait/"> Traits dashboard</a>.
Not yet a customer? Head over<a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/"> here</a> and learn more.

Fear of Public Speaking

Pre-pandemic, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm">heart disease</a> kills more Americans than any other condition each year. So understanding your risks for heart disease and learning how to mitigate them is a good first step toward prevention.
Heart disease itself is really several different conditions but the most common is coronary artery disease which develops due to a build-up of plaque that narrows your arteries and restricts blood flow. Over time, this can affect your heart&#8217;s rhythm, damage your heart muscles, obstruct blood flow, and put you at a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-28529 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-160x300.png" alt="" width="160" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-160x300.png 160w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-545x1024.png 545w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-768x1444.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-468x880.png 468w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1-628x1180.png 628w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Heart-Health-Intro-1-1.png 982w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px" />
<h6>A Healthy Heart</h6>
The best recipe for a healthy heart is eating right, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight. But understanding other underlying risks for heart disease is also important. Your family&#8217;s health history, age, and ethnicity can all play a role in your risk for heart disease. Taking healthy actions to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar can help reduce your risk.
23andMe’s Health + Ancestry Service offers several reports that look at heart-related conditions, including reports on familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), TTR-related hereditary amyloidosis, and type 2 diabetes (powered by 23andMe research).* 
<h6>Going Deeper</h6>
But for customers who want to go deeper, we also offer <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmeplus">23andMe+ Premium</a>, an annual membership with 10+ exclusive reports and features delivered to you throughout the year‡. Among those reports and features, there are reports powered by 23andMe research on a <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/heart-health/">number of heart-related conditions</a>, including atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol.
Just added to that list is a 23andMe+ Premium report on Triglycerides — a type of fat, or lipid, that the body uses to store energy from food for future use. High triglyceride levels are associated with an increased likelihood of developing heart disease, stroke, and sometimes pancreatitis.
<h6>Triglycerides Report</h6>
The 23andMe+ Premium Triglycerides report is powered by a statistical model using data from millions of 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research. Unlike Genetic Health Risk reports* that use a few variants known to have a large impact on risk-based on external studies, the report, powered by 23andMe research, creates a polygenic score that includes more than 4,000 genetic markers to estimate the likelihood of developing high triglyceride levels. Having high triglyceride levels is defined as 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or more. The model also takes into account a customer&#8217;s ethnicity and sex. The report does not diagnose high triglycerides. If you are concerned about your likelihood of developing high triglycerides, or have questions about your report, consult with a healthcare professional.
Many people in the U.S. develop high triglycerides levels, but because there are typically no symptoms many remain unaware that their levels are elevated. Most people only learn that they have an issue because they’ve had a lipid panel done, so learning about an increased genetic likelihood could start a conversation with a doctor and spur action to lower their chances. Healthy lifestyle habits can help lower triglycerides and reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke. Those actions include maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding sugary foods, and replacing saturated fats in your diet with healthier unsaturated fats. Those are fats from vegetable oils, nuts, and fish, for example. It&#8217;s also recommended to limit alcohol consumption. Also, regular exercise — 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise on most days of the week — can go a long way toward <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/">maintaining heart health</a>.
Find out more about 23andMe&#8217;s Health + Ancestry Service or 23andMe+ Premium membership go <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry?sub=ver2&amp;cabt=nao">here</a>.
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*23andMe health predisposition reports include both reports that meet FDA requirements for genetic health risks and reports which are based on 23andMe research and have not been reviewed by the FDA. The 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. For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk report, visit 23andme.com/test-info/.
‡ 10+ reports and features will be added annually from January to December.

An illustration of a heart for heart health

Heart Disease and Triglycerides, A New 23andMe+ Premium Report

It started with bad sinus infections, then regular bouts of bronchitis, a seasonal cycle that gradually worsened over three decades.
About ten years ago, this cycle evolved into <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/study-on-pneumonia">pneumonia</a>, putting Claudia, now a 67-year-old mother and grandmother in Seattle, in the ICU for a few days.
&#8220;I understand the signs now, but the first time it happened, I had this pain around the chest, a bad cough and cold,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I felt uncomfortable.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29777" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image.png" alt="" width="1853" height="1806" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image.png 1853w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-300x292.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-768x749.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-1024x998.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-880x858.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Claudia-and-Vern-Feature-Image-1180x1150.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1853px) 100vw, 1853px" />
<h2>A Medical Mystery</h2>
Doctors thought she might be having a heart attack, but X-rays of her lungs indicated pneumonia. That was about ten years ago, and now Claudia can discern the pattern as the illness comes on, which often starts with cold symptoms.
But even after that, she simply didn&#8217;t know why it was happening to her. Why was she so susceptible to sinus infections, bronchitis, and, worst of all, pneumonia? Why did she have trouble breathing sometimes? And neither did her doctors.
In her 30s, when she first started having difficulty catching her breath, she went to a pulmonary specialist who did a battery of tests. One of her doctors suggested that she had exercise-induced asthma. He gave her an inhaler. But the inhaler never seemed to help. Another doctor said that perhaps Claudia wasn&#8217;t doing enough exercise. She felt some of those treating her but thought it was all in her head. Although she has exercised regularly since her early 20s, she was told that perhaps she wasn’t exercising enough.
But not long ago, Claudia and her doctor solved the decades-long medical mystery with a bit of help from her 23andMe results.
&#8220;So, I&#8217;ve probably had this all along,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But if it hadn&#8217;t been for 23andMe, I would still be floundering.&#8221;
<h2>An Alpha</h2>
Claudia is an &#8220;Alpha,&#8221; as people with her condition sometimes call themselves. She has<a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency"> alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency</a> (AATD), a genetic disease that affects an estimated<a href="https://www.alphanet.org/what-is-alpha-1/"> 120,000 Americans</a>, but only about six percent of those with AATD are correctly diagnosed. The condition decreases levels of the alpha-1 antitrypsin protein, leading to damage to the lungs and liver.
23andMe&#8217;s Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Genetic Health Risk Report* looks at the two most common variants linked to this deficiency, the PI*Z and PI*S variants of the SERPINA1 gene. Claudia saw in her report that she had two copies of the PI*Z variant, which put her at an increased risk of developing the lung and liver disease associated with AATD.
But when she first saw this, it didn&#8217;t register. She&#8217;d never heard of the condition before, and even though she saw that it could impact a person&#8217;s lungs, she thought that if it were an issue, her doctor would have noted it.
Meanwhile, various doctors tried to figure out what was going on. She had taken the nurse&#8217;s advice during another pneumonia treatment. The nurse told her there was likely something causing this recurrent condition. She went through several tests and consulted with a pulmonologist, who couldn&#8217;t pinpoint what was wrong.
<h2>23andMe’s Report</h2>
During this period of frustration, she thought back on the 23andMe report. The report noted that one of her symptoms, shortness of breath, was included in the list of symptoms associated with AATD. She showed her doctor the report and asked if he could test her for the condition. The test results came back that she did indeed have AATD. After all those years of not knowing, now she understood.
&#8220;Although there is no cure, I now know why I get out of breath and bouts of pneumonia,&#8221; Claudia said.
<h2>Taking Action</h2>
Beyond the respiratory symptoms, AATD can also damage the liver. Claudia learned from her doctor that her liver levels were high. It surprised her, so now her liver function is regularly checked.
She&#8217;s under the care of a liver specialist and a pulmonologist at the University of Washington. They are monitoring her levels. Claudia takes vitamins to keep her immune system up. Doctors also prescribe medication to help prevent infections in her lungs and bronchial tubes. She takes care of herself.
Using resources from the Alpha-1 Foundation, she has identified two AATD specialists, one in Portland. She found another in Sacramento. Claudia is also trying to get her kids and grandkids tested. She wants to help potentially save them from the years of struggling she had to endure.
But for her 23andMe report, she said, &#8220;I would never have discovered this.&#8221;
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*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva to report and interpret <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry">genetic health risks</a>. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. The Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Deficiency genetic health risk report is indicated for reporting the PI*Z and PI*S variants in the SERPINA1 gene and describes if a person has variants associated with AAT deficiency and a higher risk for lung and liver disease. The variants included in this report are most common and best studied in people of European descent.

Help Solving A Personal Medical Mystery

Using insights from <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19-study/">23andMe&#8217;s COVID-19 Research Study</a>, our scientists have created a new interactive tool to help people better understand factors that contribute to a higher risk for hospitalizations due to the virus.
The <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19/">COVID-19 Severity Calculator</a>* allows people to see how certain non-genetic factors may impact the risk for hospitalization due to the virus. Using only data from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in our COVID-19 Research Study — and no data from outside sources — the tool looks at such things as age, exercise frequency, and health history, which may contribute to the likelihood of hospitalization from contracting the virus.&nbsp;
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 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="536" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-calculator-1200x628-1-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28728" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-calculator-1200x628-1-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-calculator-1200x628-1-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-calculator-1200x628-1-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-calculator-1200x628-1-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-calculator-1200x628-1-1180x618.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-calculator-1200x628-1.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>More Information</h6>
&#8220;We created the Severity Calculator because people who have visited <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19/">23andMe’s COVID-19 Information Center</a> have consistently been asking for more information about the severity of the virus infection and what factors into why it impacts some people harder than others,&#8221; said Janie F. Shelton, Ph.D., MPH, a Senior Scientist at 23andMe who worked on the COVID-19 Research Study.
 “In addition to publishing our COVID-19 study results for the benefit of the greater scientific community, we wanted to look for additional ways in which people could utilize insights gleaned from our research,” Janie said. 

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 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="944" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Risk-Calculator-1024x944.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28731" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Risk-Calculator-1024x944.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Risk-Calculator-300x277.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Risk-Calculator-768x708.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Risk-Calculator-880x812.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Risk-Calculator.jpg 1158w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Insights into Risk Factors</h6>
That desire to learn more about the virus and its potential impact has only grown in the last few months as cases continue to surge. While the COVID-19 Severity Calculator offers insight into factors that contribute to the risk for hospitalization from the virus among 23andMe research participants, it is not meant to be used as a predictor for a person’s individual risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms. 
And no matter what the result, everyone should absolutely maintain the precautions and protocols implemented by local, state, and federal health officials. It does not predict a person&#8217;s individual risk for hospitalization. It also does not look at all possible factors that can impact the chances of being hospitalized due to COVID-19.

<h6>Research Data</h6>
Our research, and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03065-y">other studies</a>, have shown that genetics does play an important role in the susceptibility to the virus and the severity of the disease. Last fall, our scientists <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.04.20188318v1">published findings</a> from the COVID-19 Research Study that showed associations between both the ABO blood group and genes involved in the immune response and COVID-19 susceptibility or severity. But the study also found that non-genetic factors play a significant role.&nbsp;
The COVID-19 Severity Calculator looks only at those non-genetic factors. The Severity Calculator enables individuals to input some of those non-genetic factors. It then uses statistical modeling to estimate the likelihood of hospitalization. The statistical modeling uses data collected from more than a million people who participated in the 23andMe COVID-19 Research Study. Of those who participated, nearly 10,000 were diagnosed with the virus, and nearly 750 were hospitalized with severe symptoms.&nbsp;
Using the COVID-19 Severity Calculator highlights how certain underlying health conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes significantly increased the risk for hospitalization for COVID-19. For example, our data showed that research participants with the virus who exercised at least once a week were almost 20 percent less likely to be hospitalized than those who did not exercise. In addition, our study found that simply being overweight increased the risk for hospitalization by about 34 percent over those with a normal body mass index among those participating in our study.&nbsp;
The COVID-19 Severity Calculator can illuminate how a few underlying health conditions might factor into hospitalizations due to the virus. However, it does not take into account all factors that might increase the likelihood of hospitalization.&nbsp;
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*The data powering this tool is from 23andMe consented research participants and does not represent the general U.S. population. There are also biases in the data that could affect the model. For example, individuals who died after being hospitalized for COVID-19 are not included in the data set, leading to an underestimate of hospitalization rates. This tool also does not include all possible factors that can impact the chances of being hospitalized due to COVID-19. This tool does not consider personal genetic information, nor does it predict any individual person&#8217;s chances of being hospitalized if they become infected with the coronavirus. Estimates are not available for people younger than 20 or older than 90, or for specific ancestries other than European, African American, or Hispanic, or Latino because sufficient data is not available. The strength of the associations in this tool may vary by geographic region or date of infection over the course of the pandemic. Two demographic inputs to the statistical model — median income per ZIP code and education level — are held constant at their sample median and mean, respectively.

A logo for 23andMe's COVID-19 Research Study

23andMe’s New COVID-19 Severity Calculator

The biggest changes often start with the smallest of steps, and that is particularly true with your health.
With our new Lifestyle Dashboards, 23andMe wants to help you along that path to wellness. Nudging you to eat a little better each day, or to take a few more steps outside, or reminding you of the importance of a good night&#8217;s sleep. Making these small incremental changes can add up to big improvements to your overall health.
We want to help you but, like with any journey, before you take that first step it helps both to know not just where you are but where you want to go. To do that, customers can connect their mobile devices — like an iPhone or Apple Watch with the <a href="https://www.apple.com/ios/health/">Apple Health Kit</a> or <a href="https://www.google.com/fit/">Google Fit</a> — through our app, or answer survey questions that allows 23andMe to assess their daily habits. 
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 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="520" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Frame-1-1024x520.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28725" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Frame-1-1024x520.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Frame-1-300x152.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Frame-1-768x390.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Frame-1-880x447.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Frame-1-1180x600.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Frame-1.png 1220w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Daily Healthy Habits 
</h6>
Your activity data from your phone and wearable devices, as well as your answers to those questions, allow you to compare how you are doing with other 23andMe customers, who have consented to participate in research. We’ll be able to show you how many of your daily habits, like your daily steps, your exercise routine, your veggie intake, your red meat consumption, your stress levels, compared to the thousands of individuals in our research community. 
The power of social comparison can open your eyes to things you’re doing well, and need to work on more. We even allow our 23andMe+ members to compare based on age, sex, and region.&nbsp; 
<h6>A Virtuous Circle 
</h6>
In addition, for those who opt into 23andMe&#8217;s research, your responses are aggregated with answers from other participants so that our scientists can study what works and doesn&#8217;t work in improving overall health in a sort of virtual cycle of information.
These dashboards are 23andMe&#8217;s first step into helping customers more easily integrate their day-to-day habits and behaviors into their overall 23andMe health experience. The genetic insights we provide can ground us in what lifestyle habits are especially important.
 23andMe wants to help you track and improve your wellness to work together towards a healthier future for you. If you’re a 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service customer in the United States, take a look at the Lifestyle Dashboards, and let’s take this next step to improve our health together.

Health + Traits — Page 15