When Jane Beery learned that she carried a BRCA1 mutation, she was shocked but not surprised.



Jane, who is now 66, had been going in for mammograms and screenings since her early 30s. Her mother died from breast cancer and she has Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.



“I’ve lived with this whole breast cancer cloud hanging over me for my whole life,” she explained.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="709" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/84799b76-525c-46da-9262-588bc225f940-e1666905935708-1024x709.jpg" alt="Jane Beery" class="wp-image-30649" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/84799b76-525c-46da-9262-588bc225f940-e1666905935708-1024x709.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/84799b76-525c-46da-9262-588bc225f940-e1666905935708-300x208.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/84799b76-525c-46da-9262-588bc225f940-e1666905935708-768x532.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/84799b76-525c-46da-9262-588bc225f940-e1666905935708-880x609.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/84799b76-525c-46da-9262-588bc225f940-e1666905935708-1180x817.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/84799b76-525c-46da-9262-588bc225f940-e1666905935708.jpg 1512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



So in 2018, when the 23andMe BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report* became available, she opted to receive the information.



“I remember hesitating before opening the report,” she said. “I thought about it for a while, and I thought about my life, and I went ahead.”



The report indicated that she had the BRCA1 variant – one of the three variants for which 23andMe tests.



After digesting her report, she told her nurse practitioner – who advised her to make an appointment for confirmatory testing with a genetic counselor – and her two daughters. “They were young adults, and I decided they needed the information.”



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-the-brca-genes">Meet the BRCA Genes</h6>



<a href="https://www.23andme.com/brca/">BRCA genes</a> themselves do not cause cancer. Instead, they normally act as tumor suppressors – helping to prevent cancer by repairing and protecting DNA. But BRCA variants cripple this DNA repair process, which can spur tumor growth and increase the risk of developing certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">Sticking your head in the sand isn’t a good strategy, especially when there is so much that can be done</blockquote>



People with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage are particularly likely to carry these variants. Whereas one in 400 people in the general population carries a BRCA variant, about<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/bringyourbrave/hereditary_breast_cancer/jewish_women_brca.htm"> one in 40</a> people of Ashkenazi descent has one of the three variants included in 23andMe’s report.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">23andMe Customers</h6>



More than 6,000 23andMe customers with a variant – including Jane –&nbsp; have viewed their&nbsp; BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk report.&nbsp;



But recent research estimates that less than 20 percent of people with a BRCA variant know they have one.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Taking Action</h6>



For Jane, knowing her BRCA status has allowed her to take proactive steps to protect her and her daughter’s health. Since the discovery, she elected to have preventative surgery to remove her ovaries as well as a double mastectomy – significantly reducing her chance of developing breast cancer and nearly eliminating her risk for ovarian cancer.&nbsp;



And this knowledge became even more critical when one of her daughters found a lump in her breast at the age of 32 and was eventually diagnosed with breast cancer.



“[The hospital] had me scan and email my 23andMe reports to the geneticists while they waited for my daughter’s genetic test results to come back,” Jane recalled. “It was helpful in the time before they got her testing back, and they were able to confirm [her BRCA status].



Today, Jane is dedicated to sharing her BRCA story in the hopes that it can help others.



 “Power comes from knowledge,” she reflected. “Sticking your head in the sand isn’t a good strategy, especially when there is so much that can be done.”



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



*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 certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. 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 each genetic health risk report, visit<a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/"> 23andme.com/test-info/</a>.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Discovering a BRCA Gene in the Family

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/10/27/2542610/0/en/23andMe-Granted-New-FDA-Clearance-to-Provide-Interpretive-Drug-Information-for-a-Commonly-Prescribed-Cholesterol-Medication.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">granted 23andMe </a>510(k) clearance for its pharmacogenetics report for the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/pharmacogenetics/slco1b1/">SLCO1B1 genetic variant</a> to provide interpretive drug information for simvastatin.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-among-the-most-commonly-prescribed-medication">Among the Most Commonly Prescribed Medication</h2>



Simvastatin is a medication in the statin family of drugs commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. In 2020, simvastatin was the second-most widely prescribed statin and the thirteenth-most<a href="https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/"> commonly prescribed</a> medication in the U.S.



A particular gene variation, SLCO1B1, influences the body’s response to simvastatin. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ethnicity-matters">Ethnicity Matters</h2>



In<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4889090/"> certain ethnicities</a>, up to 38 percent of people have a SLCO1B1 genotype that increases the possibility of experiencing side effects related to taking simvastatin, particularly statin-associated musculoskeletal symptoms risk.



In addition to providing interpretive drug information, the new FDA clearance also removes the requirement for confirmatory testing.&nbsp;



“This is an important win for consumers, as they will have access to critical information on how they may respond to a commonly prescribed medication based on their genetics,” said Noura Abul-Husn, M.D. Ph.D., Vice President of Genomic Health at 23andMe.



“A complete health picture requires a number of inputs, including genetics, which is too often overlooked in healthcare. With this clearance, we are continuing to champion access to actionable health information so that everyone can benefit from a personalized healthcare experience and avoid negative side effects of medications where possible.”

Another FDA Clearance to Provide Drug Information

Most of us intuitively know what we need to do to stay healthy — eat better, exercise, get more sleep and reduce stress.



But knowing and doing are two different things.&nbsp; Many of us struggle to take the necessary actions to improve our health. Some of us just need a little nudge to get started. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and we wanted to raise awareness about the risk but also shine a light on people who after learning of their own risk got educated and took action to lower it.&nbsp;



For Tracy, the nudge came from a 23andMe report, powered by 23andMe Research,&nbsp; indicating that she had a higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes based on her genetics. It wasn’t that the result was a surprise — the condition runs in her family. It was simply seeing the report, spending the time to read it, and knowing that it confirmed what she already knew: She needed to take better care of herself.



”Seeing it there, in your face&nbsp; … I actually have to do something about that,” Tracy said.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-is-heavy">This is Heavy</h6>



Part of the promise of 23andMe is it offers people the information they and their healthcare provider can use to make better decisions about their health.



&#8220;The potential for 23andMe is really to massively change the way we are approaching our own health in terms of prevention,&#8221; said Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe’s CEO and co-founder. &#8220;I hope in 10 years we can have a society where people are proactively managing their health and getting information that helps them avoid disease.&#8221;&nbsp;



But what about right now?



According to the CDC, the number of Americans with diabetes has more than <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/quick-facts.html">doubled in the last two decades</a>. More than a third of adults in the United States are pre-diabetic. The vast majority of them, 84 percent, don&#8217;t even know they are at risk. About 34 million people in the US have diabetes.



The staggering number is a testament to how hard it is to make changes. Understanding the emotional and psychological hurdles people need to clear before taking the actions they already know they need to take to be healthy is essential.



There isn’t a perfect solution, but knowing your risk — whether from being overweight or having a higher genetic likelihood for the condition — is a first step to preventing developing type 2 diabetes. Finding the motivation to make a change is the next step.



We talked to a few 23andMe customers who used their 23andMe reports to help motivate them to make healthy changes. Here’s what they shared with us.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-change-what-you-can">Change What You Can</h6>



For Tracy, a 54-year-old mother of three adult children, this information came right as she was thinking about the next stage of her life.



Contemplating being both a mother and grandmother. She wanted to avoid some of the health issues her own mother and grandmother dealt with in their lives. The 23andMe report, coupled with some concerning blood work indicating she was pre-diabetic, was all she needed for motivation. She started eating better, exercising more, and focusing daily on her health.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30386" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-768x1151.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-587x880.jpg 587w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-788x1180.jpg 788w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-scaled.jpg 1709w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tracy</figcaption></figure>



Since making those changes she’s lost 15 pounds, and her A1C levels — a measure of blood sugar levels over time — have returned to normal. Her weight loss has not always been consistent, rising and falling over the months. Still, she’s focused on the positives. She’s kept the weight off and has plans to lose 15 more pounds. And the positive changes she’s made started with her understanding of the role genetics together with lifestyle plays in one’s chances of developing type 2 diabetes.&nbsp;



“I can’t change the DNA, but I can change what I do daily,” Tracy said.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-being-prepared">Being Prepared</h6>



Much like Tracy, Erick, a professional Jiu-Jitsu athlete, used his 23andMe report as motivation to keep focused on his health.



Erick, who served five tours in Afghanistan and is now in the Army reserves, is all about staying focused and prepared for what is to come. He said the health information within 23andMe’s report gives him the information he can use to be healthier and more prepared for the future.



“I want to know as much about my body as I possibly can so that I have the best advantage to train and compete,” Erick said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="728" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Erick-728x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-30588" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Erick-728x1024.png 728w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Erick-213x300.png 213w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Erick-626x880.png 626w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Erick.png 758w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Erick</figcaption></figure>



He’s already in great shape, but he wants to do everything he can to stay healthy for his baby girl and&nbsp; two young sons. Seeing that he had a higher genetic likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, he decided to talk to his doctor about it. One of the first things that he focused on was the type of food he eats.



“I grew up in the Midwest and was a real meat and potatoes guy!” he said.



That changed after seeing the report and a discussion with his doctor. It motivated him to reduce his consumption of red meat, replacing it with more fish and chicken. He and his coaches tweaked his training, and those simple changes helped him lose some excess weight.



He feels better and is as prepared as ever.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taking-control">Taking Control</h6>



Unlike Erick, Kat (who uses the pronouns they/them) felt their weight issues were a given. Obesity runs in their family and they had sort of accepted it as their destiny.&nbsp;



But 23andMe’s report changed Kat’s point of view. Kat had an increased genetic likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. But reading it made Kat realize that actually, their DNA wasn’t their destiny.



“With 23andMe, it made me feel like maybe I should care about my health and live my life like I’m going to make it after all,” Kat said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kat-Photo-scaled-e1666044631750-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-30408" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kat-Photo-scaled-e1666044631750-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kat-Photo-scaled-e1666044631750-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kat-Photo-scaled-e1666044631750-660x880.jpeg 660w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kat-Photo-scaled-e1666044631750-885x1180.jpeg 885w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kat</figcaption></figure>



Kat realized that yes their genetics plays a role but so does diet and lifestyle. Kat decided to make some healthy changes, eating better, exercising more, and changing their perspective on the future. After making those changes, Kat has already lost 50 pounds. And the transformation has inspired others in Kat’s family. Kat’s mom also adopted a healthier lifestyle, losing 15 pounds thus far.&nbsp;



“What’s cool about 23andMe is (it) gives me the inspiration that a lot of diet programs don’t provide,” said Kat.&nbsp;



And that success motivated Kat’s mom to also take action.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Self-Coaching</h6>



When she was on campus, Lucy helped fellow students as a volunteer with the University of Wyoming’s wellness program. As a wellness ambassador, her job was to help others through education, conducting health screenings, health coaching, or simply lending an ear to listen. She never expected that she would use some of those skills for her own wellness.



An adoptee, Lucy used 23andMe to learn a little bit more about her ancestry, but it was her health reports that ended up drawing most of her attention. Learning that she had a substantially increased genetic likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes prompted Lucy to act.



“I was shocked,” she said.



It prompted her to go back and look at her most recent blood work, and she saw that she was on the cusp of being pre-diabetic.



Her 23andMe report and blood test drove her to act.



“It has really given me the motivation to start eating healthier and exercise more,” Lucy said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="819" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lucylucia-1024x819.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30409" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lucylucia-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lucylucia-300x240.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lucylucia-768x614.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lucylucia-880x704.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lucylucia-1180x944.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lucylucia.jpg 1750w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lucy</figcaption></figure>



With a weakness for sweets, Lucy knew she had to work at maintaining a healthy lifestyle but she got some help from those she loved. At home, Lucy’s mom made sure to stock the house with food options to support Lucy’s goals, and at school, her boyfriend, now her husband, helped her by changing his diet and working out with her at the gym. She’s already noticed a change, even in how her body responds when she strays and eats something sugary. It’s also helped her in her volunteer role, allowing her to share her own experience of making healthy choices every day. Now that she’s married and recently graduated from school, she’s carrying those lessons with her. She knows that those decisions don’t only help her but her family and the people she cares about and who care about her.



“I do not want my health problems to negatively affect the people I love the most,” she said. “I am so thankful to have learned about this earlier rather than later.”



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Staying Around Longer</h6>



David was always curious about what he could learn about using 23andMe, but he didn’t try it until some friends gave it to him as a gift for his birthday. All the curiosity had been focused on what he might learn about his ancestry. He didn’t expect that his health reports would have much more impact on his life.



Among the things he learned about his health was that he had an increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. The father of a 13-year-old, and on the cusp of getting married again, the result got his attention.



“It prompted me to make myself healthier,” he said&nbsp;



After seeing his report he talked to his doctor.



“I went to my doctors and asked what the best course of action would be,” David said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="675" height="675" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1xmtzc.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30347" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1xmtzc.jpg 675w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1xmtzc-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1xmtzc-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1xmtzc-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1xmtzc-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1xmtzc-574x574.jpg 574w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">David</figcaption></figure>



It wasn’t too complicated, his doctor told him.



“Primarily, it’s diet and exercise,” David said.



Although the advice seemed generic, for some reason it felt more personal. David could see that he not only had a higher genetic likelihood but that his lifestyle choices put him at a higher chance for type 2 diabetes.



“I know that sounds like a catchall but honestly it really is (what you need to do),” he said.&nbsp;



David started with the simple things. He cut out fast foods, processed meats, and cheese from his diet. The latter was a little hard for him.



“I love cheese,” he said.&nbsp;



But he kept at it, motivated to act not just because of his genetic likelihood and his overall health but because he saw how diabetes had ravaged his mom and his grandmother. He knows what it means to live with the condition, and that’s what kept him going.&nbsp;



“It’s a journey,” he says.&nbsp;



A surgery set him back but he’s recently started to get into the gym again, and he’s running training for a 5K, as well as some obstacle races that some of his friends are doing.



“I’m ready to catch up with them,” David said.



But it’s not just about doing stuff with his friends. He thinks about his son.



“ I want to be the role model he needs,” David said. “I don’t want to lead by a bad example of what not to be. I need to be around for a long time.”



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



*Important Note: The 23andMe Type 2 Diabetes report is based on 23andMe research and incorporates more than 1,000 genetic variants to provide information on the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.&nbsp; The report does not account for lifestyle or family history and has not been reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration. Click <a href="http://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/type-2-diabetes">here</a> for additional important information.

Healthier Every Day 

A team of researchers led by scientists from the University of Edinburgh completed the largest genetic study to date looking at dyslexia and linking the condition to genes associated with neurodevelopment.



Dyslexia is estimated to affect between 5 to 17 percent of the population. It impacts a person’s reading ability and often runs in families.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Books-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26405" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Books-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Books-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Books-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Books-1-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Books-1-1180x787.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-links-to-neurodevelopment">Links to neurodevelopment</h6>



The new study, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-022-01192-y">Nature Genetics</a>, offers more insight into the biological mechanisms behind dyslexia. The study found genetic links between the condition and genes associated with neurodevelopment,. Researchers also identified a genetic link between dyslexia and ambidexterity.&nbsp;&nbsp;



But the study did not confirm some previous research suggesting a genetic link between dyslexia and changes in brain structure.



“Previous work suggested some brain structures may be altered in people with dyslexia, but we did not find evidence that genes explain this,“ said Michelle Luciano, Ph.D., the lead author and a researcher at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-and-spelling">Reading and spelling</h6>



Because dyslexia is so closely genetically related to performance on reading and spelling tests, Dr. Luciano called out the need for better-standardized testing as a way to identify individuals with the condition early to help them with reading and writing.



Scientists from the<a href="https://www.genlang.org/"> Genetic Language Consortium</a> and from 23andMe contributed to the study. The work relied on data from more than a million 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research. Among those consenting to participate in research were about 51,000 people who reported that they had dyslexia.



In all, researchers identified 42 genetic variants. The strongest of those were genetic variants that were also linked to cognitive ability and educational attainment. Educational attainments is a measure of the number of years in school. The genetic variants associated with dyslexia were also associated with language delay, thinking skills, and academic achievement. The results highlighted how dyslexia and its impact on reading and writing affect some of the essential processes for learning.&nbsp;



You can see the full study in<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-022-01192-y"> Nature Genetics</a>.



The researchers also assembled a list of answers to questions on the study, its purpose, and how the genetic study was conducted<a href="https://www.genlang.org/GWAS_dyslexia_FAQ.html"> here</a>.

Study Identifies Genetic Links to Dyslexia

We know Halloween is scary good, and that’s not because of pumpkin spice.



So, what gives?



There are the costumes, the candy, and the usually risk-free thrill of something scary, or the chance to scare the heck out of somebody else. But why do we like it so much?



As fans of this time of year, a few of our scientists dove into the data to take a closer look. They wanted to know just how much people say they fear creepy crawly spiders or love horror films, or whether they prefer the sweet taste of, say a Snickers bar, over the tang of a Sour Patch Kids candy.&nbsp;



We looked at the data to see what it says about fear, taste, and attraction to the thrill of something scary. Here’s what we found.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="569" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-17-at-3.35.46-PM-1024x569.png" alt="" class="wp-image-30608" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-17-at-3.35.46-PM-1024x569.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-17-at-3.35.46-PM-300x167.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-17-at-3.35.46-PM-768x427.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-17-at-3.35.46-PM-880x489.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-17-at-3.35.46-PM-1180x656.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-17-at-3.35.46-PM.png 1562w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fear-and-loathing">Fear and loathing</h6>



At 23andMe we ask all sorts of questions about everything from whether you can curl your tongue or do a cartwheel. This is because it adds to our understanding of human traits, behavior, and in some cases human health.&nbsp;



While this was a fun exercise, it also did reveal some interesting associations between certain fears and mental health-related conditions. So we saw that those who reported a fear of spiders also were much more likely to have a fear of heights, as well as a likelihood to have anxiety and depression.&nbsp;&nbsp;



If you do have a bit of arachnophobia, you’re not alone. A lot of people are afraid of spiders, about 22 percent of the population say they have that fear, according to <a href="https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/research-centers/babbie-center/_files/Babbie%20center%20fear2021/blogpost-americas-top-fears-2020_-21-final.pdf">Chapman University Survey of American Fears</a>. 23andMe’s data shows a higher percentage of people say they are afraid of spiders, about 38 percent, but the surveys are done differently. The annual Chapman survey includes questions about a large number of fears. A fear of spiders ranks among fears just behind a fear of snakes, but ahead of murder hornets.&nbsp;



Since that, all sounds like the plot line for a scary movie, that brings us to, well, scary movies. Despite our fears, some of us are actually attracted to horror films. From a scientific point of view, we see that this may be another form of thrill-seeking or risk-taking, which may in turn also reflect on behavior.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-age-matters">Age matters</h6>



A lot changes as we get older, and it’s not just attitudes, hair lines and wrinkles. As we age, it appears that the years lessen certain fears, and change our perceptions and tastes in everything from the food we eat to the films we watch. These trends are very distinct in the data.



As we age, some of our fears — at least in the case of spiders — fade. Perhaps we focus on bigger things or just put things into perspective.&nbsp;



And maybe as we age what also fades appears to be any thrill from seeing a scary movie. In truth, most 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research — more than half surveyed — actually say they don’t like horror movies, but age matters.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="633" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Halloween-Related-Preferences-by-Age-1024x633.png" alt="A bar chart showing how fear of spiders, preference for sweet or sour candy and horror movies changes as we age." class="wp-image-30400" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Halloween-Related-Preferences-by-Age-1024x633.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Halloween-Related-Preferences-by-Age-300x186.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Halloween-Related-Preferences-by-Age-768x475.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Halloween-Related-Preferences-by-Age-880x544.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Halloween-Related-Preferences-by-Age-1180x730.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Halloween-Related-Preferences-by-Age.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



More than half of people under 30, about 60 percent, say they like scary films. So, expect more reboots of movies like Scream, Halloween, and, yikes, Saw. As a side note, in looking at those who said they liked the “Horror” genre we saw an association with depression, smoking, and a lack of religiosity.&nbsp;



Breaking down the data by age we see that with every decade the taste for a devilishly scary movie diminishes. By the age of 60 more than three-quarters of people say they dislike horror films.



One surprise, although maybe it shouldn’t be, is that it’s not just our film tastes that change with age. So too do our candy preferences. The older you get, according to our data, the more likely you prefer sweet candy over sour. This might actually reflect changes in our taste buds as we age.&nbsp;



Both our genetics and our environment shape our taste preferences, whether we like <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/sweet-salty/">salty or sweet snacks</a>, for instance, or our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/traits/bitter-taste/">bitter taste perception</a>. But our taste perceptions also change <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8618294/">as we age</a>.&nbsp;



There are multiple factors for this including physiological ones that can dull taste receptor cells. Some studies indicate an age-related decline in sweet and salty taste perception, but with contradictory results. Our data indicate that as people age they report liking sweet candy more than sour ones.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-sex-matters">Genetic sex matters</h6>



We also saw differences in responses between males vs females, defined here solely by chromosomal sex, not necessarily sex assigned at birth or gender identity.



More men than women said they liked horror films, but they were not popular with either men or women. About 37 percent of men said they like horror films, and about 32 percent of women felt that way but a majority of both men and women said they disliked scary movies.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="633" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Genetic-Sex-Halloween-Preferences-1024x633.png" alt="This bar chart looks at differences in preferences based on genetic sex" class="wp-image-30402" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Genetic-Sex-Halloween-Preferences-1024x633.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Genetic-Sex-Halloween-Preferences-300x185.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Genetic-Sex-Halloween-Preferences-768x474.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Genetic-Sex-Halloween-Preferences-880x544.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Genetic-Sex-Halloween-Preferences.png 1104w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



As for a fear of spiders, we also saw a difference but a majority of both men and women said they weren’t afraid of spiders. Only about 22 percent of men said they were afraid of spiders and about 45 percent of women said they were afraid of them.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-horror">The horror</h6>



Mapping some of this data into a sort of Venn diagram of fears we see that there are a chosen few — about 20 percent of those surveyed — who describe themselves as brave, not afraid of spiders, and fans of horror films.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="697" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Not-Brave-v-Fearful-e1665524256291-1024x697.png" alt="Ven Diagram looking at overlap between fears and preferences." class="wp-image-30403" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Not-Brave-v-Fearful-e1665524256291-1024x697.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Not-Brave-v-Fearful-e1665524256291-300x204.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Not-Brave-v-Fearful-e1665524256291-768x523.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Not-Brave-v-Fearful-e1665524256291-880x599.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Not-Brave-v-Fearful-e1665524256291-1180x803.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Not-Brave-v-Fearful-e1665524256291.png 1466w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Perhaps Halloween is ideally made for them, but even those of us who are fearful, don’t like scary movies, and are afraid of spiders can at least look forward to candy.&nbsp;



We plan to continue to collect these data over time. We also hope to look at how genetics might play a role, not just in how we experience Halloween but what these traits might say about mental health conditions and how they might change with age.

Trick or Treat, Scary or Sweet

Bolstered by the early success of recruitment for our<a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/"> Rare Disease Research Study</a>, 23andMe has expanded its scope from four to now include twelve rare conditions.
Finding and then enrolling participants in the study of rare diseases has always been a challenge for scientists. Diseases are considered rare if they affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., and with those numbers spread out across the country finding and then getting participants for research is difficult. Even when the studies move forward, they often include very few people, which hampers the ability to make meaningful insights.
<h6>23andMe research model and rare disease</h6>
About a year ago 23andMe published a paper illustrating how our research model is uniquely positioned for this kind of research. The paper outlined what at the time was believed to be the<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/new-way-to-study-rare-disease/"> largest genetic study of rare diseases ever done</a>. Using insights from that paper, 23andMe launched its Rare Diseases Research Study. 
The handful of conditions we began with included:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/systemic-sclerosis/">Systemic sclerosis</a>, which causes the hardening of the body’s connective tissue. (This study was first begun in 2021.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/anca-associated-vasculitis/">ANCA-associated vasculitis</a>, a group of autoimmune diseases that are characterized by inflammation of small vessels. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/pemphigus-vulgaris/">Pemphigus vulgaris</a>, an autoimmune disorder that involves blistering and erosion of the skin as well as the mucous membranes.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/dermatomyositis/">Dermatomyositis</a>, an inflammatory disease marked by muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash.</li>
</ul>
Before launching the Rare Disease Research Study, some of 23andMe’s rare disease cohorts had fewer than 150 individuals who had consented to participate in research. Since launching the study, we’ve added almost 200 consented research participants to help fuel this research. 
<h6>New Conditions</h6>
With this positive trend, 23andMe added eight more diseases to this study including;
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"> <a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/pulmonary-arterial-hypertension/">Pulmonary arterial hypertension</a>, a rare and progressive form of pulmonary hypertension (PH) that is caused by an obstruction in the small arteries in the lung. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/primary-sclerosing-cholangitis/">Primary sclerosing cholangitis</a>, a chronic disease in which the bile ducts inside and outside the liver become inflamed and scarred, and eventually narrowed or blocked.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/pulmonary-fibrosis/">Pulmonary fibrosis</a> is a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/myasthenia-gravis/">Myasthenia gravis</a>, a chronic autoimmune disorder in which antibodies destroy the communication between nerves and muscle, resulting in weakness of the skeletal muscles.  </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/myelodysplastic-syndrome/">Myelodysplastic syndrome</a>, a group of disorders caused by blood cells that are poorly formed or don&#8217;t work properly.  </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/lymphangioleiomyomatosis/">Lymphangioleiomyomatosis</a>, a lung disease caused by the abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells, especially in the lungs and lymphatic system.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/giant-cell-arteritis/">Giant cell arteritis,</a> a part of a group of disorders that cause inflammation within blood vessels, most commonly in the head.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/essential-thrombocythemia/">Essential thrombocythemia</a>, a condition where too many platelets are produced in a person’s bone marrow. Symptoms develop over time but they can lead to difficulty breathing, weakness, fatigue, clotting, strokes, and an enlarged spleen, among other things.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
The goal is to recruit 1,000 participants for each of these conditions which can help us have stronger statistical power for research. This can drive meaningful insights that could ultimately lead to the development of better treatments. We hope to expand this study further by adding new rare conditions in the future.
To learn more go<a href="https://www.23andme.com/rare-disease-research-study/"> here</a>.

23andMe Adds More Conditions to Rare Disease Research Study

This week, we released a new 23andMe+ Premium report on asthma powered by 23andMe research.
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that occurs when the immune system overreacts to an environmental trigger, causing inflammation, increased mucus production inside the airways, and tightened muscles around the airways. 
While it’s more common for asthma to be diagnosed during childhood, it can develop at any time.
<h6>Understanding Asthma </h6>
It is estimated that around<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/nhis/2019/table2-1.htm"> 12 percent of people</a> in the U.S. have asthma. Besides genetics, other non-genetic factors like ethnicity, long-term irritant exposure, and age can increase a person&#8217;s chances of developing the condition.
In 2020, an<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/researchers-identify-new-genetic-associations-for-allergies-asthma-and-eczema/"> international team of scientists</a> uncovered new genetic associations for several allergic conditions – specifically allergies, asthma, and eczema – by studying the age of onset.
The researchers used data from the UK Biobank to identify 76 genetic variants associated with these allergic conditions in or near 18 different genes. They found that about 50 of these variants were associated with a higher risk of both developing allergic conditions in the first place and developing them at an early age.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-30335 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/asthma-story-1.4435b09a0863.svg" alt="" width="306" height="403" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-1.4435b09a0863.svg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-1.4435b09a0863.svg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-1.4435b09a0863.svg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-1.4435b09a0863.svg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-1.4435b09a0863.svg 306w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 306px) 100vw, 306px" />
<h6>A New Report</h6>
Our new Asthma report is powered by data from people who have consented to participate in 23andMe research. It uses machine learning techniques to estimate an individual’s likelihood of developing asthma.
This estimate is made using a statistical model that includes 24,244 genetic markers and information on an individual’s ethnicity and birth sex. See our<a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/23_21-PRSMethodology_May2020.pdf"> white paper</a> to learn more about the science behind the report.
<h6>Asthma Attacks</h6>
People with asthma may experience shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing, or wheezing. Each of these symptoms can range in severity.
Symptoms often come and go, and specific triggers can cause them to worsen or flare up suddenly in episodes called asthma attacks. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-30336" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/asthma-story-2.3188cc48c4e0.svg" alt="" width="221" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-2.3188cc48c4e0.svg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-2.3188cc48c4e0.svg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-2.3188cc48c4e0.svg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-2.3188cc48c4e0.svg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/asthma-story-2.3188cc48c4e0.svg 306w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px" />
<h6>Common Triggers</h6>
Asthma triggers vary from person to person. However, some of the most common triggers include allergies, air pollution, tobacco smoke, respiratory infections, and cold air
<h6>Managing Asthma</h6>
Simple strategies like identifying and avoiding triggers and recognizing the warning signs of an impending asthma attack can help reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms. 
Staying up to date on vaccines and avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke can also be helpful.
People with asthma triggered by allergies can minimize allergen exposure by using HEPA air filters and vacuum cleaners. And people who are allergic to dust mites can use impermeable pillow and mattress covers to reduce exposure. 
In addition, medications like quick-relief inhalers, and long-term asthma control medications can help manage symptoms.
<h6>Learn More</h6>
23andMe’s new Asthma report (powered by 23andMe Research) is available to 23andMe+ Premium members. To view your report, go<a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.asthma/"> here</a>.
Not a customer? Find out more<a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/"> here</a>.
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New 23andMe+ Premium Report on Asthma

A massive new study, the largest genome-wide association study ever done, has found nearly all the common genetic variants that explain the heritability of height among people of European ancestry, and in the process may have set the framework for future genetic research into other traits and diseases.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/tallshadow-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-180" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/tallshadow-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/tallshadow.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />
Using data from about 5.4 million individuals, almost half of whom were 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research, the study identified 12,111 variants or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that help explain differences in height.
“We feel that this is really a milestone,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.broadinstitute.org/node/7053">Joel Hirschhorn</a>, senior author on the study, an institute member at the Broad, and also a professor of genetics and Concordia Professor of Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. “We’d been studying height for a while but had only identified a small fraction of common variant heritability. We’re now basically done mapping this heritability to specific genomic regions, and that highlights what increasing sample size can tell us about traits controlled by multiple genes.”
<h6>GIANT</h6>
Published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05275-y">Nature</a>, the study, led by researchers at the <a href="https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/largest-genome-wide-association-study-ever-uncovers-nearly-all-genetic-variants-linked-height">Broad Institute</a> and the international <a href="https://portals.broadinstitute.org/collaboration/giant/index.php/GIANT_consortium">Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium</a>, is the culmination of a multi-year effort to foster collaboration between academic, non-profit, government, and commercial partners. In their effort, the researchers collected, merged, and analyzed numerous independently generated genome-wide association studies into a single data set. In all, there are more than 200 different datasets incorporated into this study, which included contributions from hundreds of scientists from around the world.
<h6>The Power of Scale</h6>
What they found is important not just because of what it says about height, syndromes, and abnormalities affecting stature, but what it says about the potential of using very, very large amounts of data to generate insights into the genetics of different traits and conditions. Because height is so heritable, and because it is easy to measure someone’s height, it offers a very straightforward way to conduct a genetic study into a trait.
&#8220;This study highlights the ability of large-scale genetic studies to reveal the underlying biology of human phenotypes,” said Adam Auton, 23andMe’s Vice President of Human Genetics. 23andMe was one of a long list of institutions and organizations involved in the study.
“With this 5.4 million person study, we&#8217;re now at the stage where we&#8217;re starting to saturate our genetic understanding of height,” Auton said. “However, for other phenotypes — particularly human diseases — we&#8217;re a long way from saturation, and there is a lot we don&#8217;t yet understand.&#8221;
<h6>Heritability of Height</h6>
Heritability is the measure of how much our DNA explains the differences in specific traits or conditions. A SNP is a one-letter variation in the genetic code at a single point along the genome. These common variants are associated with differences in everything from traits like the color of our eyes or our height, or our risk for certain diseases.
Along with genetics, one’s environment — diet, for instance — also plays a role in these different traits and conditions. In the case of height, genetics has an outsized role in explaining about 80 percent of the variation. Because researchers included more than twice the number of individuals in this study from the next largest height study, they were able to discern almost all the heritability for height. So, size matters in genetic studies.
Previous height studies were large but just not large enough. According to the authors, this study was big enough to discern almost all of the heritability for height. In finding most of the variants that explain the heritability for height, the authors estimate that they’ve now identified variants that account for 40 percent of all variation in height in people with European ancestry. But they’ve identified only around 10–20 percent of the variation in people of other ancestries.
<h6>Diversity Matters</h6>
Also significant is that the study found that the genetic variants associated with height clustered within or near genes or gene regions associated with growth and development. That makes sense, but scientists were not so sure that is what they’d find. Many scientists thought that perhaps the variants they’ve identified could be found randomly sprinkled throughout the genome. But seeing that there is clustering will allow researchers to focus more on the clues around the biology and processes involved in individual traits like height.
In addition, the study illustrates something we already know about genetic research: diversity matters.&nbsp;
Although there were large numbers of individuals – more than a million – with African, Asian, and Latino ancestry included in this study, the vast majority of the data came from people of European ancestry. Some of the variants associated with height were associated with individuals of all different ancestries, but the findings were most applicable to those of European ancestry.&nbsp;
The researchers concluded that their study would benefit from data from a more diverse pool of individuals, especially those of African ancestry since people of African ancestry have the most genetic diversity of all populations. Not only would it improve the predictive power of the models developed to predict height for non-Europeans,&nbsp; it would also help in identifying causal genes and rare variants involved in height.
Read the full paper <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05275-y">here</a>.
&nbsp;

Giant Study Offers Insights into the Genetics of Height

We’re all smiling a bit more at 23andMe this week on news from Comparably that 23andMe was singled out on lists not just as having the happiest employees, but also as one of the companies rated by employees as having the best compensation, perks &amp; benefits as well as the best work-life balance.
The workplace review site <a href="https://www.comparably.com/">Comparably</a> compiled the lists based on anonymous employee reviews over the last year. The lists are based on sentiment ratings provided by current employees.
One of those anonymous reviews summed up a common refrain from employees about work at 23andMe:
&#8220;New challenges, plenty of opportunities to understand and implement solutions, and a vast amount of talent to learn from each other.&#8221;&nbsp;
23andMe ranked 7th on the list of the<a href="https://www.comparably.com/news/happiest-employees-2022/"> “Happiest Employees,”</a> drawing on data from employees’ attitudes on such things as compensation, company goals, and excitement about the work they do.
“Our data shows that the happiest employees are often those who feel valued by their employers through a variety of factors like competitive compensation, clear goals, work-life balance, and a general excitement working for their organizations,” said Comparably co-founder/CEO Jason Nazar.
Indeed, employees’ sentiment about compensation, work-life balance as well as perks &amp; benefits, clearly played a role in their overall contentment. 23andMe was also included on lists for the “<a href="https://www.comparably.com/news/best-compensation-2022/">Best Company Compensation,”</a> “<a href="https://www.comparably.com/news/best-work-life-balance-2022/">Best Work-Life Balance,</a>” and “<a href="https://www.comparably.com/awards/winners/perks-benefits-2022-large?mkt_tok=MjM3LUxVWi00OTMAAAGHTL62hMlfLk6B9wIEGDz0vMjtjAWHAzbUnU7iamiLpKGQB43frSsqlBqy6Hi2PNSpuKD5exF90HY3h1G6vxmfJcCqBZPTI9IBzPISAkFSAPO-">Best Perks &amp; Benefits</a>.”
Each of those rankings was also based on anonymous employee reviews. Earlier this year 23andMe also landed on<a href="https://www.comparably.com/"> Comparably’s</a> 2022 list of<a href="https://www.comparably.com/awards/winners/best-company-bay-area-2022"> Best Places to Work in the San Francisco Bay Area</a>.
Want to learn more about working at 23andMe? Find out more <a href="https://www.23andme.com/careers/">here</a>.

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