23 and me

doesn't help but i did order it. they have my sample and it takes 4-6 weeks to process. very curious what is says.

Hi Justin!

I did the 23andme testing a few years ago. The information the website compiles for you is interesting - particularly the opportunity provided to link up with family members from across the world (which I did not do - I have enough on my plate right now).

But I have had a completely different experience than project - so I will address the following to you both.

PROJECT and JUSTIN:
The data provided by 23andme is unusable (it's around 200000+ DNA codes - pages and pages and pages of codes in a text file) - you need to have it interpreted by an outside source (this is because 23andme is not set up to actually interpret the data into useful information) and someone tried or was able to file suit against them for communicating "unscientific" interpretations of DNA mutations. They got out of that business fast and just stopped interpreting it other than VERY vague generalities about eye color, etc. It's interesting but in no way useful for us.

You need to share the data with an outside source - there are a few AWESOME research-based sites that you can use that will take your data text file and give you a list of DNA mutations. There are a few sites that focus entirely on detoxing and methylation (Amy Yasko is an autism expert and does just that - it's narrow but GOOD info although she sells products and some see this as a little self-interested - many parents owe their child's recover to her and would buy her products all over again). And usually, along with these interpretations you'll also get information about how to supplement.

One site I HIGHLY recommend is livewello.com - I think it used to cost $50 for an interpretation, I think now there is a $35 option. It is an endless source of information - almost overwhelming. Researchers and learning universities create "programs" that they post for you to run your data through (make no mistake, they are also using your results to inform their research, although it's stated it is completely anonymous).

Livewello has various categories that you can investigate in addition to detoxing, methylation - also heart health, digestion, brain function, muscle/bone structure - I forget all the categories. I ran my data through over 200 programs and finally stopped because I just couldn't do anything with all that info.

I can share more if you like - please do the 23andme.com and also - if your LLMD or ND has trouble getting you to respond to the specific supplements, keep looking for more information - it's out there.

Regarding the "over extrapolating" perspective--rather than overindulging or reading too much into DNA information, I think what is really happening is that there is SO MUCH to learn about it, we're not always getting the full picture. I think a lot of people have huge success with simple detox/methylation supplementation. For others (like me) there is much more going on and it just takes deeper investigation. Until I can dig that deep, it's still very helpful to know which categories I likely have issues with--helps to target my focus and know where experimentation might also be informative.

ETA: For instance -- I have gut issues; since 70% of our immune system IS our guts, and lyme & co treatment tis reliant upon a functioning immune system it became imperative that I heal my gut to a large extent before starting significant lyme & co treatment in order for it to be effective (we are ingesting most of our treatment).

Plus, it's known that bacteria can manipulate DNA so each person can have such a unique landscape.

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 5/26/2016 3:21:42 PM (GMT-6)

You're welcome. Quite a few people have done this analysis - if you're interested in more info do a search for "23andme".

-p

project -

I appreciate your input although I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. I don't think anyone here would suggest that you can customize a lyme & co treatment plan solely by analyzing your genetics. And I, for one, don't think there is much within lyme & co going on within our bodies that is solely genetically driven. The infections themselves can alter our DNA.

To the points raised in the article - I think they are still in the very early learning stages about alzheimer's, what it really is and what causes it. I think they barely know how to diagnose it. And I think there are varying conditions within it--and I have read enough research to assume some versions of it are bacterial in nature.

But back to the mutations issue - I do believe, based on my experiences and those I've read about (here and elsewhere) that the mutations provide a perspective that is useful to many people (and as I referenced in my previous post - there has been significant improvement in some autistic kids in conjunction with diet and other protocols). Many people have had extreme complications from not being able to detox appropriately, but have had really good results with simple supplementation.

Everyone is different and you and i have clearly had a different experience but that's to be expected. I have neurotransmitter mutations which make supplementing quite complicated. But supplementation I've done for other mutations has been pretty helpful. Again, just understanding what categories of body systems might not be fully functioning, in context with my health history and issues going on during the lyme & co illness have most definitely informed my treatment journey.

In other words, it's not a panacea nor should it be broadly discounted but I think everything has context.

-p

For $50 this gave me 37 pages of results, about 20 average per page:

/mthfrsupport.com/sterlings-app/

I got burned out on trying to treat mutations,, it did nothing, I'm a MUNTANT!!

It did show me some things to watch out for, and further testing proved I have some "conventional medicine " known gene issues. So the conventional Drs asked how i knew to test these with them, I mentioned from 23andMe (which they think is a joke) was correct.

We all think Drs are science minded, but most ARE NOT, even though they dove into science in school.

As a past engineering student, I never put blind folds on, assume almost anything is possible until proven otherwise. If medical Dr mindsets worked for NASA, we'd still be perfecting the Wright brothers Kitty Hawk since space travel would be deemed "nonsense". I work on/with physics stuff deemed impossible 30 years ago, yet medical schools teach / sell outdated 30 year old info.

Drs......... no , many dont think and are afraid too. Its wierd. I dont get it. Like trained animals in a pen. No curiosity at all, yet trained in science. Its baffling.

Just make 100% sure that you're comfortable with Google/gov't having a copy of your DNA. They'll have it for all eternity. Not sure where the future of technology is heading, and I'm not sure what they'll use that information for. I don't even like the gov't having a copy of fingerprints, but that's just me.

You think my alien DNA will be a red flag? They wont care.