Comments on: Google Co-Founder Blogs About 23andMe Data, Parkinson’s Risk http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/09/18/google-co-founder-blogs-about-23andme-data-parkinsons-risk/ A receptacle for genetic knowledge. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:01:10 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: nick http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/09/18/google-co-founder-blogs-about-23andme-data-parkinsons-risk/comment-page-1/#comment-798 nick Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:59:56 +0000 http://spittoon.23andme.com/?p=1418#comment-798 arvktr, When "higher" or "lower" odds are mentioned, that is a comparison of your risk for an occurrence to the risk of that same occurrence in the general population. So, if you have lower odds of developing condition A, that means you are less likely than average to develop it. This may be further quantified to give you an idea of how much less likely that actually is. As for your question of validity, that varies from case to case. It depends on the quality and quantity of research supporting it. 23andMe offers some guidelines about this for conditions in the Gene Journal. You can also do your own research (e.g. pubmed) to assess the validity of supporting research. So can you trust it? Sometimes the SNP-disease associations are a near certainty. More often it's much more fuzzy, but may be enough to give you reason to take some actionable course. Personally, I consider this to be valuable information, and as the pace of science marches on it becomes more valuable. When reading the disclaimers that you're concerned about, consider that lawyers are involved. Enough said on that. arvktr,

When “higher” or “lower” odds are mentioned, that is a comparison of your risk for an occurrence to the risk of that same occurrence in the general population. So, if you have lower odds of developing condition A, that means you are less likely than average to develop it. This may be further quantified to give you an idea of how much less likely that actually is.

As for your question of validity, that varies from case to case. It depends on the quality and quantity of research supporting it. 23andMe offers some guidelines about this for conditions in the Gene Journal. You can also do your own research (e.g. pubmed) to assess the validity of supporting research.

So can you trust it? Sometimes the SNP-disease associations are a near certainty. More often it’s much more fuzzy, but may be enough to give you reason to take some actionable course. Personally, I consider this to be valuable information, and as the pace of science marches on it becomes more valuable.

When reading the disclaimers that you’re concerned about, consider that lawyers are involved. Enough said on that.

]]> By: arvktr http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/09/18/google-co-founder-blogs-about-23andme-data-parkinsons-risk/comment-page-1/#comment-740 arvktr Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:13:41 +0000 http://spittoon.23andme.com/?p=1418#comment-740 Honestly, i still don't get what all the odds mean. I understand that i have "higher odds" of getting a disease, but is it valid? is it proven? can i trust it? till now, no "personalized genotyping" company has answered these questions. All the companies say it is not a medically valid result. Then what's the point paying 400 to 1000 dollars for a prediction? i personally feel this is more like expensive astrology rather than medical information. If i am wrong, please make me clear about this :) Honestly, i still don’t get what all the odds mean. I understand that i have “higher odds” of getting a disease, but is it valid? is it proven? can i trust it? till now, no “personalized genotyping” company has answered these questions. All the companies say it is not a medically valid result. Then what’s the point paying 400 to 1000 dollars for a prediction? i personally feel this is more like expensive astrology rather than medical information. If i am wrong, please make me clear about this :)

]]> By: folkmbr http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/09/18/google-co-founder-blogs-about-23andme-data-parkinsons-risk/comment-page-1/#comment-707 folkmbr Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:55:09 +0000 http://spittoon.23andme.com/?p=1418#comment-707 It is fantastic that personal genomics can inform through our DNA of health related issued, both good and bad. I immediately went to my 23andMe account and used the genome browser to look at my LRRK2 status - luckily, I'm not at higher risk. I'm anxious for some studies on Alzheimer's disease, something that runs in my family. It's great to have some forshadowing of potential future health issues so we can take action now in our own lives to reduce the impact they will have. I think it is also great that Sergey was open about his own findings, as the more information and transparency we have as a population, the quicker scientists will be able to pinpoint and research cures for diseases like Parkinson's. It is fantastic that personal genomics can inform through our DNA of health related issued, both good and bad. I immediately went to my 23andMe account and used the genome browser to look at my LRRK2 status – luckily, I’m not at higher risk. I’m anxious for some studies on Alzheimer’s disease, something that runs in my family. It’s great to have some forshadowing of potential future health issues so we can take action now in our own lives to reduce the impact they will have. I think it is also great that Sergey was open about his own findings, as the more information and transparency we have as a population, the quicker scientists will be able to pinpoint and research cures for diseases like Parkinson’s.

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