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Causation versus Susceptibility: Alzheimer’s Disease, Genetics, & APOE

Silhouettes of 44 people encircle the text, “Updated 23andMe test still misses moist people with BRCA1/2 hereditary cancer risks”. About 1 in 4 of the people are colored in red and the rest are colored in pink. The pink silhouette is intended to represent people who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variant that would be missed by the 23andMe test.

The Value of Knowledge and the Cost of False Reassurance: Understanding the Updates to 23andMe’s BRCA Genetic Testing

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BRCA2 on the TODAY Show: Jill Martin’s Story

Actor, Chris Hemsworth,  stands in front of a blue sign that advertises the show Limitless.

The Limits of Limitless

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The Jon Wolff Memorial Fund

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Stephanie Meredith: A Trailblazer in Genetic Communications Helps GSF Advocate for Equitable and Inclusive Genetic Health

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Causation versus Susceptibility: Alzheimer’s Disease, Genetics, & APOE

By Chase Beeler, Rachel Westman, and Devin Shuman New Developments A recent study published in Nature Medicine, and a follow up article in the New York Times, has added to and challenged our understanding of the genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease. Based on the data analyzed, this study is claiming that a specific variant in the …

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Silhouettes of 44 people encircle the text, “Updated 23andMe test still misses moist people with BRCA1/2 hereditary cancer risks”. About 1 in 4 of the people are colored in red and the rest are colored in pink. The pink silhouette is intended to represent people who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variant that would be missed by the 23andMe test.

The Value of Knowledge and the Cost of False Reassurance: Understanding the Updates to 23andMe’s BRCA Genetic Testing

The recent update to 23andMe’s DTC test in September 2023 expanded their BRCA1/2 analysis to detect a total of 44 specific variants, including those evaluated previously1. This certainly will increase the detection of genetic variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for individuals beyond those who are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. However, given that there are thousands of genetic variants in these two genes that are associated with hereditary cancer risks, it is important to recognize that the updated 23andMe test will still miss the majority of people with BRCA-associated hereditary cancer risks.  

BRCA2 on the TODAY Show: Jill Martin’s Story

Photo credit Jill Martin Instagram A couple weeks ago, I received a message in a group text chat with friends and patient advocates. Janet wrote, “Jill Martin is sharing our message of inheriting mutations from our fathers!” Her sister Eileen shared, “I just watched it. It really touches home.” Jill Martin, lifestyle contributor of the …

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Stephanie Meredith: A Trailblazer in Genetic Communications Helps GSF Advocate for Equitable and Inclusive Genetic Health

Stephanie Meredith has a long history of advocating for inclusive policies and resources for individuals with a genetic diagnosis. She is the Medical Outreach/Lettercase Program Director for the Lettercase National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute where she markets and distributes resources about genetic conditions such as …

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Mark Johnson: A Legacy of Innovation and Leading the Way in Genetic Healthcare

Mark Johnson has a long legacy of supporting the genetic sciences through his professional work and his service over the past thirty years.  Having earned an undergraduate degree in business administration with a chemistry minor and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he began his career as a business attorney but soon turned …

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Help Ensure Access to Independent Genetic Counseling Services: Support HR 3235 

I’m writing today to ask for your help in showing support for H.R.3235 – the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act of 2019. This Act, if passed, would allow for genetic counselors to be reimbursed for medically necessary genetic counseling services under part B of the Medicare program. The Problem Genetic counselors have advanced training and …

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