Unearthing Parkinson's Secrets | Anne Wojcicki | Big Think

TL;DR

23andMe collaborates with Michael J. Fox and the Parkinson's Institute to provide discounted genetic testing and surveys to individuals with Parkinson's. They analyze the collected data to make discoveries that can benefit the community.

Transcript

we launched the Parkinson's initiative with Michael J fox and the Parkinson's Institute in out here and we have individuals with Parkinson's were given a discounted version of uh the 23me so we've designed the 23me site so that individuals can get access to their data um they can fill out surveys specifically about Parkinson's as well as about thei... Read More

Key Insights

• 🈹 The Parkinson's initiative by 23andMe, in collaboration with Michael J. Fox and the Parkinson's Institute, offers discounted genetic testing and surveys to individuals with Parkinson's.
• 💁 The long-term goal is to track Parkinson's disease progression and its correlation with genetic information over time.
• 🥺 23andMe's data analysis has led to interesting discoveries, which will soon be announced, and can potentially benefit the Parkinson's community.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does 23andMe support individuals with Parkinson's?

23andMe provides discounted genetic testing and surveys specifically for individuals with Parkinson's, enabling them to access their genetic data, fill out disease-specific surveys, and connect with the Parkinson's community for support and information sharing.

Q: How does 23andMe plan to gather long-term information about Parkinson's progression?

23andMe plans to conduct additional Parkinson surveys to track disease progression over months and years. This information, combined with genetic data, can provide valuable insights into how Parkinson's develops and changes over time.

Q: What discoveries has 23andMe made through their data analysis?

23andMe's researchers are making interesting discoveries by analyzing the data collected from surveys and genetic information. The company plans to announce these discoveries soon, which can benefit the Parkinson's community and potentially contribute to improved treatments and clinical trials.

Q: How can 23andMe help in conducting clinical trials?

23andMe aims to address the issue of underpowered clinical trials by leveraging their large data sets. By collaborating with individuals with Parkinson's and analyzing their genetic and survey data, 23andMe can provide large cohorts for clinical trials, ultimately improving the power and effectiveness of these trials.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• 23andMe offers discounted genetic testing and surveys to individuals with Parkinson's, allowing them to access their data, fill out Parkinson's-specific surveys, and connect with the community.

• The long-term goal is to gather information about individuals with Parkinson's over time to understand disease progression and correlate it with genetic information.

• 23andMe's researchers analyze the collected data, aiming to make significant discoveries that can contribute to clinical trials and personalized drug response.