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

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

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

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Better Together: Sisters Meet for the First Time

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

23andMe Improves Carrier Status Report for People with Asian Ancestry

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

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

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

Mental Health Awareness Month Tips You Can Use

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

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

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

Anxiety and Depression Raise the Risk for Long COVID

This week, we released a new report powered by 23andMe Research on Psoriasis for 23andMe+ Premium members.
The autoimmune condition is characterized by discolored, itchy, and scaly patches of skin often seen on the knees, elbows, and scalp. Symptoms can also occur in other areas of the body, such as the torso, palms, and soles of the feet. In its mildest form, psoriasis can be a nuisance. But in severe cases, the condition can be painful and sometimes unsightly. 
Psoriasis is chronic and symptoms may come and go throughout a person’s life. Such things as stress, intense sun exposure, infections, or skin injuries can trigger flare-ups.
The condition is estimated to affect about 3 percent of people in the United States.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="790" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.54-PM-790x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29706" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.54-PM-790x1024.png 790w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.54-PM-231x300.png 231w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.54-PM-768x996.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.54-PM-679x880.png 679w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.54-PM.png 796w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px" /></figure>
 
<h6>More About Psoriasis</h6>
Psoriasis is often confused with another skin condition, eczema. Both can trigger skin irritation but eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, is more often characterized by itchy, dry, and or discolored skin. Eczema shares genetic associations with<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/researchers-identify-new-genetic-associations-for-allergies-asthma-and-eczema/"> allergies and asthma.</a> Psoriasis on the other hand, has genetic associations with genes involved with the body’s<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/new-genetic-variants-found-influence-psoriasis-risk/"> immune response</a>.
Like eczema, psoriasis can be itchy, but symptoms are more associated with a stinging or burning sensation, and more inflammation of the skin. Psoriasis also typically includes thickening patches on the skin, called “plaques.” In addition, the condition sometimes includes areas of skin that are covered in silvery-white scales that flake off.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="658" height="568" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.40-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29707" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.40-PM.png 658w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-1.07.40-PM-300x259.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 658px) 100vw, 658px" /></figure>
 
<h6>A New Report</h6>
The new 23andMe+ Premium report, which is powered by data from consented 23andMe research participants, uses machine learning techniques to estimate an individual’s likelihood of developing psoriasis.
To make the estimate for the likelihood of developing psoriasis we use a statistical model that includes more than 7,500 genetic markers as well as information on an individual’s ethnicity and birth sex. Our researchers also verified that the model meets our scientific standards for individuals of European, Hispanic/Latino, East/Southeast Asian, South Asian, Sub-Saharan African/African American, and Northern African/Central &amp; Western Asian descent. Your Psoriasis result also takes into account the birth sex you indicated in your account settings.
<h6>Taking Action</h6>
There is no cure for psoriasis, but there are several promising treatments and ways to manage the condition. Healthy lifestyle habits — limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and managing stress — can lower the chances of developing psoriasis, as well as reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups.
Medications used to treat the condition vary depending on whether the condition is “systemic” meaning it affects the whole body, or “localized,” meaning it only affects an isolated area of the skin.
Beyond the physical symptoms, psoriasis is also associated with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. This is in part because the condition carries a stigma because of the misconception that it is contagious, even though it’s not. (23andMe does not report on contagious conditions.) Beyond that, the appearance of the condition and chronic discomfort can be isolating. 
<h6>Learn More</h6>
23andMe’s new Psoriasis Report (Powered by 23andMe Research) is available to all 23andMe+ Premium members. To view your report, go <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.psoriasis/">here</a>.
Not yet a 23andMe+ Premium member?
Find out more about our 23andMe+ Premium membership  <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/?halnup=hath">here</a>.

New 23andMe+ Premium Report on Psoriasis

Corie Allessie, a retired dental assistant and former Navy jet mechanic, has a few essential rules for healthy living.



&nbsp;Never, ever eat in front of the television. Get up and get moving (winter is not an excuse). Prepare healthy food – especially vegetables – ahead of time. Minimize eating out. Walk whenever you can (her preferred walking partner is her 170-pound Saint Bernard, Pete). And keep yourself accountable, either by writing in a journal or sharing your goals with a friend or family member.



&nbsp;She came up with these guidelines after a 23andMe kit prompted a revaluation of her lifestyle.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="593" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7765-e1651865945218-1024x593.jpg" alt="Corie and her daughter, Cassie" class="wp-image-29723" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7765-e1651865945218-1024x593.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7765-e1651865945218-300x174.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7765-e1651865945218-768x445.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7765-e1651865945218-880x510.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7765-e1651865945218-1180x684.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7765-e1651865945218.jpg 1317w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Corie (left) with her daughter Cassie and her dog Pete </figcaption></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-honest-assessment">An honest assessment</h6>



Corie received 23andMe as a gift from her daughter and was excited to learn more about her genetics. As she waited for her results, she filled out several 23andMe <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/212881977-23andMe-Research-Surveys-and-Questions">research questions</a> about her health.



&nbsp;The questions forced her to take an “honest look” at her choices and habits. “The questions really triggered something for me…maybe my weight gain wasn’t all about the COVID-19 pandemic; maybe it was about my low activity level or my eating patterns,” she said.



This reflection “sparked an interest in being more productive, active, and responsible for my health because what I do now will have an impact later on.”



&nbsp;So she decided to make changes and encouraged her family to do the same.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-we-re-on-the-right-path">&#8220;We&#8217;re on the right path&#8221;</h6>



By following the simple principles outlined above, Corie, her husband, and her daughter have lost over 80 pounds combined. “My daughter is running on the treadmill,” she reported. “My husband is walking more. We’re on the right path.”



And the benefits extend far beyond the scale. She now has renewed energy to do what she loves – playing with her three grandchildren (“who needs a gym, just have grandchildren,” she quipped), and creative writing. She even wrote a poem about her 23andMe experience:



“It came as a gift, but it’s so much more.



It showed me my ancestors from a time before.



Through science, I am able to see,



Those whose DNA is shared with me.



I have a connection with people far and near,



It helped me change, and took away the fear.



Together with the knowledge of my ancestry,



I can make healthy choices.



Thank you, 23andMe!”

A Family Gets Healthy, with Some Help from Mom

For Mother’s Day this year we want to highlight <a href="https://www.facebook.com/23andMe/photos/a.10150582352627802/10161640110272802/?type=3">Lisa</a>, a public health nurse with a background in genetics, who shared what she learned using 23andMe as part of a little motherly advice for her two sons.
“I want to be able to help my kids understand their health risks and make good decisions,” Lisa said. “Knowledge is power.”
&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="512" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lisa-MDay.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29725" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lisa-MDay.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lisa-MDay-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lisa-MDay-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lisa-MDay-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lisa-MDay-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h6>Be Aware</h6>
A lot of parents use the refrain — “make good decisions“ — when talking to their kids. But Lisa knows that good choices depend on good information, especially when it comes to your health.
The first step is to understand a bit about your family medical history, and using 23andMe could help by filling in the gaps in that history. In Lisa’s case, she knew that age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in older adults, ran in her family.  Her mom was diagnosed with AMD in her 70s. So, it wasn’t a surprise when Lisa learned that her Age-Related Macular Degeneration Genetic Health Risk report* showed two variants associated with the condition.
<h6>Taking Action</h6>
Having an understanding about the impact of genetics on her health, inspired her to take steps to try and keep her eyes healthy. First, she talked to her husband, who is a doctor, about what actions to take. Among the steps one can take to potentially lower their risk, are things like not smoking, and including more leafy greens, citrus, nuts and whole grains in your diet. And simple things like wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from harmful exposure to the sun. Lisa did all that and also took the time to talk to her sister, and then to her two sons.
&#8220;We&#8217;re looking out for them and making sure they see the seriousness of this disease,” Lisa said.
She wasn’t just offering up a bit of motherly wisdom, but sharing information that she knew could have lasting impact.
“I think it’s very empowering for them to have this knowledge and be able to pass it on to future generations,” she said. 
*The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. The Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) genetic health risk report is indicated for reporting of the Y402H variant in the CFH gene, and the A69S in the ARMS2 gene and describes if a person has variants associated with an increased risk of developing AMD. The variants included in this report are common in many ethnicities but are best studied in people of European descent.

A Mother’s Vision

Instead of being treated for an illness, most of us would prefer to avoid getting sick in the first place.
But in large measure, our health care system isn’t geared for that. It’s quite good at treating illness but not so good at preventing it. What if you could turn that system on its head and, through genetic testing, identify the risk for a serious illness or disease before it becomes a problem?
Imagine a different kind of clinical care in which patients and their providers could take action earlier to treat or potentially prevent an illness altogether.
23andMe is taking its first steps to do just that.
“By starting with genetics we can give people, and their healthcare providers, better information about risks and potential treatments,&#8221; said Paul Johnson, 23andMe’s Vice President, General Manager, Consumer, and former CEO of Lemonaid Health. “This is a first step toward integrating genetics into everyday care. It has the potential to transform the traditional primary care experience and make personalized healthcare a reality.”
&nbsp;

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="268" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Linkedinfacebook-lemonaid.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29712" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Linkedinfacebook-lemonaid.jpeg 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Linkedinfacebook-lemonaid-300x157.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h6>An Action Plan</h6>
In the fall, 23andMe acquired the innovative telemedicine company Lemonaid Health. 
For our customers, starting this week, we will be offering genetic report consultations with a Lemonaid Health clinician. These licensed and patient-centric healthcare professionals can help customers better understand the potential impact of their genetic risk profile and discuss the next steps. 
Every day, otherwise healthy 23andMe customers learn of genetic variants that could predispose them to a health condition that could be concerning. These are serious, clinically-relevant conditions. For many of these conditions there may be treatments available, so knowing of a risk offers customers a chance to take steps to prevent or manage them.  
This integration with Lemonaid Health will offer customers who may have learned of an unknown genetic risk through their 23andMe Health Reports, or those who simply have questions about a condition, an opportunity to consult virtually with a clinician about what those risks might mean for them. Together with the clinician, a customer can then create an action plan to address the identified risk if necessary.
<h6>The First Set of Reports</h6>
This first phase of the integration will focus on a subset of 23andMe’s Genetic Health Risk Reports* related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome caused by variants in the BRCA genes, MUTYH-associated polyposis (a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome), and familial hypercholesterolemia which can cause high cholesterol and early heart attacks. In addition, 23andMe+ members will have the opportunity to share information related to select Pharmacogenetics Reports** when it is appropriate for their care plan. These reports focus on genetic variants that can impact how the customer may process certain medications.
Here are the reports that will be included in the first phase of this program:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) Genetic Health Risk Report*, looks at three genetic variants associated with increased risk for breast cancer (in women and men), ovarian cancer and possibly certain other cancers including prostate and pancreatic cancer. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">MUTYH-Associated Polyposis (MAP) Genetic Health Risk Report*, looks at two genetic variants associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Genetic Health Risk Report*, looks at two dozen genetic variants linked to FH which increases the risk of high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and premature heart attacks.</li>
</ul>
<h6>How it Works</h6>
23andMe customers will be able to connect with Lemonaid Health directly through one of these reports. From there they’ll be able to schedule a consultation with one of Lemonaid’s physicians or nurse practitioners.
A customer can choose to share their 23andMe report data with the Lemonaid Health clinician conducting the consultation. Alternatively, customers can decide to consult with a clinician without sharing their data, and simply discuss their reports or family health history. In either process, the customer and clinician consultation remains confidential. Customers will also have the option to discuss two 23andMe Pharmacogenetics (PGt) reports** (only available to 23andMe+ members) with a doctor or nurse practitioner within the context of the above conditions. 23andMe’s Pharmacogenetics Reports look at how a customer’s DNA may impact the way they process certain medications. 
The initial consultation will be $65, and focuses on helping an individual understand their 23andMe reports in the context of their own health and family history, and what next steps they could take. The discussion will focus on the interplay of genetics along with how their own personal and family health history influences the risk of developing a disease. Confirmatory testing could be recommended at the first consultation. 
Follow-up virtual visits will be $110 after that initial visit. Trained in genetic health concepts, the Lemonaid team may coordinate additional confirmatory testing if necessary or recommend specialist referrals, or they may simply help customers better understand their reports and next steps. Initially, the consultations will be by phone, and reachable through the 23andMe iOS app, Web, and Mobile Web.  The service is currently not available on Android devices.
<h6>Find Out More</h6>
This first step in enabling 23andMe customers to access individualized care powered by genetics delivers on 23andMe’s mission to ensure people can benefit from the human genome. 
Find out more about what 23andMe offers <a href="https://www.23andme.com/?halnup=hath&#038;evr=epv">here</a>.
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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 for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment.  Warnings &amp; Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of the 185delAG and 5382insC variants in the BRCA1 gene and the 6174delT variant in the BRCA2 gene. The report describes if a woman is at increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, and if a man is at increased risk of developing breast cancer or may be at increased risk of developing prostate cancer.  The three variants included in this report are most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and do not represent the majority of BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in the general population. The MUTYH-Associated Polyposis Genetic Health Risk Report is indicated for reporting the Y179C and G396D variants in the MUTYH gene and an increased risk for colorectal cancer.  The two variants included in this report are most common in people of Northern European descent.  These reports do not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in these reports do not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting before taking any medical action.  For important information and limitations regarding other genetic health risk reports visit  <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info">https://www.23andme.com/test-info</a>.  
**23andMe PGS Pharmacogenetics 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 Pharmacogenetics report provides certain information about variants associated with the 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. Warning: Test information should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment and does not test for all possible variants that may affect metabolism or protein function. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional. Making changes to your current regimen can lead to harmful side effects or reduced intended benefits of your medication, therefore consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding Pharmacogenetics reports, visit 23andme.com/test-info/pharmacogenetics/

Another Step Toward Unlocking the Power of Genetic Health Information

Diseases are considered rare if they affect fewer than 200,000 in the United States, but collectively rare diseases — there are nearly 7,000 — are more common than we realize, affecting about 25 million Americans and more than 300 million people worldwide.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-16566 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/lung_xray-300x223.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="223" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/lung_xray-300x223.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/lung_xray.jpeg 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Because these are rare conditions finding enough research participants to study these conditions can make studying them immensely challenging for scientists. But the 23andMe research model is uniquely suited to<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/new-way-to-study-rare-disease/"> study rare diseases.</a> We’ve launched a series of studies on rare diseases like <a href="https://www.23andme.com/systemic-sclerosis-study/">systemic sclerosis</a>, and<a href="https://www.23andme.com/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/"> idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)</a>. Earlier this month we added one more to the list with a <a href="https://www.23andme.com/sarcoidosis-representation/">new study of sarcoidosis</a>. April also happens to be Sarcoidosis Month, and April 30th is National Sarcoidosis Day in the United States.
So, take a moment to learn a bit more about this little-known condition.
<h6>An Inflammatory Disease</h6>
Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DOE-SIS), is an inflammatory disease that mostly affects the lungs in people with the condition but can affect any organs in the body. 
The disease leads to the clumping together of inflammatory cells in different organs, which in turn can lead to scarring and organ dysfunction. While it impacts both men and women, and people of any ethnicity or age, it disproportionately affects people of African ancestry, particularly women, and people of Northern European ancestry. 
Early symptoms may include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes or painful swelling of the joints. Because it often affects the lungs, sarcoidosis symptoms may also include shortness of breath, wheezing, a persistent cough or chest pain. When it affects the heart, the condition may result in irregular heart beat, or accelerated heart beat, or swelling of the heart, known as edema. It can also affect the eyes resulting in blurred vision,
There currently is no cure and few approved treatments.
<h6>Searching for Treatments</h6>
23andMe’s study will look at genetic associations in what we hope will be the world’s largest study of this disease in African Americans. We hope the research identifies potential new treatments for sarcoidosis. Our efforts will involve recruiting people with the condition to participate in our research. That ensures that people of African ancestry are well-represented in the research. This is to ensure that any new potential treatments are effective for underrepresented populations.
In general, studying rare diseases is a challenge because patients are hard to find and recruit in large numbers. Simply finding enough people with one of these conditions who can participate is often the first hurdle for researchers. But 23andMe is uniquely positioned to do this work. We believe that by leveraging online tools and reaching out to individuals diagnosed with sarcoidosis we can accelerate the pace of research.
Just as with most other rare diseases, there is a strong genetic component to sarcoidosis. However, many of the genetic variants associated with the condition have not yet been identified. 
<h6>More</h6>
Learn more about 23andMe’s sarcoidosis study <a href="https://www.23andme.com/sarcoidosis-representation/">here</a>.
Questions about the study? Contact us at <a href="mailto:sarcoidosis-representation@23andme.com">sarcoidosis-representation@23andme.com</a>.

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