Weight And Metabolism Determined By Genetics Than Diet 20 Mar 2025, 2:00 pm

UVA doctor Susanna Keller, dietitian Sibylle Kranz and their colleagues studied four different strains of mice that were given a vegan, vegetarian, Mediterranean or typical American diet. Kranz says it was a challenge creating each kind of mouse chow given their goals.

“We set certain standards for nutrients that we wanted to achieve. No matter what the diet was. It all had to have the same amount of calories, the same amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats,” Krantz explains.

With funding from the university, Keller says, they spent five years documenting what happened to each genetically different group of mice when eating the different diets.

“We had one strain that gained the most weight on all the diets, and then we had this other strain that didn’t gain any weight on any of the diets.”

Although, Keller adds, for mice that gained weight, one diet really packed on the pounds or ounces.

“The American diet was the one that caused the most weight gain in that particular strain.”

They also studied blood sugars and fats, finding there too that different diets did not produce predictable results. Again, Professor Kranz.

“We always assumed that the diet will affect everybody in the same way, or at least somewhat in the same way, and we now have measurable outcomes that demonstrated that is just not happening.”

The reason, Keller concludes, is the fundamental role played by genetics.

“The genetic background has a much more prominent impact than diet on body weight gain, blood sugars and fats as well as gene activity.”

In other words, the way we metabolize foods probably depends to a large extent on our unique DNA. Kranz says it’s time to stop telling everyone to eat a certain way, and we need more research — in animals and humans — to create custom diets based on genetics.

“We’re just really scratching the surface of something that has not been looked into before. Should you really tell everybody to eat a certain way because it’s healthier? Probably not, because for different individuals, different things might be healthier.”

Someday, she and Keller hope humans can design their diets based on genetics.

“Ideally, we’d have something where you can come in and maybe you spit into a cup, and right there we can analyze your whole genome, and then we can tell you what are higher risk factors for you, and what kind of diet you can use to have the best beneficial outcomes.”

But she cautions that today’s commercial genetic tests based on saliva or hair samples should not be used to help consumers eat for good health.

“For weight loss, for muscle building, for diabetes prevention or diabetes treatment, there are companies out there that charge decent amounts of money to then tell people what they should be eating, based on whatever samples they sent in, and what we see is that a lot of this is not scientifically supported.”

And both Keller and Kranz advise the public not to consider weight as the sole indicator of heath. Some people ho are branded overweight are actually quite healthy based on other measures of metabolism.

The post Weight And Metabolism Determined By Genetics Than Diet first appeared on Family Tree.

DNA Detective: Indiana State Police Hire First Forensic Genealogist 18 Mar 2025, 2:00 pm

The use and success of forensic genealogy has exploded recently. Family trees and DNA are tracking down killers and identifying missing loved ones, often after decades.

Now, Indiana State Police are one of the first police agencies the country to hire someone specifically with those skills. They posted a job for a forensic genealogist last spring. That scientist is now on the job and already making a difference.

When it comes to crime fighting, mysteries of murder and missing persons are often solved inside the Indiana State Police Laboratory.

Bradley Marchant is an experienced scientist cracking cases through forensic genealogy.

“I’m a forensic investigative genetic genealogist or we call it FIGG,” Marchant explained. “I’d like to say I’m a DNA detective. It’s a dream job because not only do I love genealogy, I’m also a true crime buff. So it’s really fascinating. I love a good mystery, so for me, finding a role that I could do all of the above was really, really exciting.”

Marchant may wear a bow tie instead of a badge, but this DNA detective could be the most significant hire by ISP in decades.

He’s the first ever forensic genetic genealogist working for state police. It’s only the sixth such position at a police agency nationwide.

Police departments in Indiana had been outsourcing this kind of work to private labs, at a cost of thousands of dollars per cold case. Now, Marchant can puzzle it out in-house, solving crimes faster and cheaper with technology seen as a game changer.

ISP First Sgt. Kevin Smith runs the state’s cold case team. He said FIGG is the biggest breakthrough in criminal investigations siren the fingerprint and DNA itself.

“This is huge. It’s a huge leap,” Smith said. “The Ted Bundy’s of the world might not exist after this. You give me that DNA today, to weeks from now, we probably know who it is. Here’s why.

Traditional DNA testing compares evidence to possible suspects in a national criminal database called CODiS.  But if there’s no match, the case often stalls. With FIGG, it may not go cold.

Marchant uses family trees to search for suspects, connecting relatives through DNA people upload to public genealogy databases accessible to police like GedMatch or Family Tree DNA.

“Those trees are going back and we’re looking for ways that they overlap,” Marchant explained. “So we might have two individuals who are third cousins of a potential suspect and we find out how they are related. Who are their shared ancestors, which would then be shared ancestors of that perpetrator? We find the most common ancestors and we trace the family down to the present. Then we look at other clues, such as where the crime happened and the general description of the perpetrator.”

Police say a staggering 50% of cases are solvable with this technique.

The first and most famous nationally was the Golden State Killer.

In Indiana, FIGG solved the April Tinsley case after detectives spent three decades trying to catch her killer.

Forensic genealogy finally found their man in 2018.

“We had this full DNA profile, this STR profile, but could not figure out what it was. After reading about the Golden State Killer, we tried it with the Tinsley case. They had the DNA, so Fort Wayne sent it off to Parabon (a private lab that does forensic genetic testing) and the rest is history on that one,” Smith said. “You know, that was the sixth case in the country. Now there’s been hundreds and hundreds of them solved. And a few years from now, it’s going to be thousands.”

Another example, just last year, FIGG solved the 1975 abduction and attack of three Indianapolis girls. And right now, it’s being used to identify victims of accused Indiana serial killer Herb Baumeister through DNA and genealogy of bones found at Fox Hollow.

The post DNA Detective: Indiana State Police Hire First Forensic Genealogist first appeared on Family Tree.

Should Genealogy Be Taught In Schools? 13 Mar 2025, 2:00 pm

Have you ever considered the lifestyles of the individuals depicted in an antique photo? From where did they originate? What were their hopes and frustrations? Genealogy, which is the study of family history helps us connect to our heritage. It. teaches us the tales that framed our family history. It’s not dates and names; it’s a glimpse into history. This exposes the rich tapestry of human experience, Times Daily reported.

This article illustrates why genealogy must be added to every learner’s curriculum. It discusses the tremendous benefits of family history study.

The Basics of Genealogy

Genealogy is a tapestry of stories. Every strand witnesses the triumphs and setbacks that shaped your family’s past. It allows you to discover your roots and how history made you who you are today.

Foundational Skills in Family History Research

Learning genealogy basics gives students valuable research skills beyond family history. They learn about family trees. They learn about historical documents too. Then they experiment with the reliability of various sources.

Learning basics of genealogy assists learners in placing historical events into perspective using personal stories. History is no longer in books anymore. It’s the history of their family. This makes it more relevant and interesting. These are skills that are priceless for academic achievement and life-long learning.

Foundational Skills in Family History Research

Learning genealogy basics gives students valuable research skills beyond family history. They learn about family trees. They learn about historical documents too. Then they experiment with the reliability of various sources.

Learning basics of genealogy assists learners in placing historical events into perspective using personal stories. History is no longer in books anymore. It’s the history of their family. This makes it more relevant and interesting. These are skills that are priceless for academic achievement and life-long learning.

Advantages of Family History Education

Bringing genealogy into the classroom offers many benefits. It helps students learn about history, culture, and themselves.

Enhances Learning And Motivation

Family history education can significantly increase students’ interest in history and social studies. If students relate historical events to their families, learning becomes relevant and personalized. History is no longer a dry subject in a textbook but an interesting study of their heritage. This connection makes learning relevant and memorable.

The post Should Genealogy Be Taught In Schools? first appeared on Family Tree.

European Diaspora Genetic Groups Update 11 Mar 2025, 2:00 pm

An update to our 23andMe Ancestry Service adds new granularity for people with connections to Eastern European and Finnish settlers in the U.S. We’ve also added new Amish and Mennonite Genetic Groups across North American, and Genetic Groups connecting customer to Northwestern Europeans in South Africa. 

From the Wends of Texas to to European South Africans from the Bushveld region, even Canadian Doukhobors and Mennonites from the Prairies and Great Plaines, this update can provide unique connections around the globe.

With this latest update 23andMe can now connect customers on our latest genotyping chip to 4000+ geographic regions, ethnolinguistic groups, and cultural groups around the world. 23andMe+ Premium members will also be able to see any distant Genetic Group connections they may have to these regions.

Ancestry Composition Update

23andMe’s Ancestry Composition report is a living analysis that improves as we add new reference data. Underlying our Ancestry reports are powerful algorithms and analytical tools developed by 23andMe population geneticists and engineers to offer our customers more insights into their ancestral origins.

Recently, we’ve updated results for people with connections to French and German Groups in North America, South Asia, Greece and the Balkans, and African American Groups, for instance.

Find Out More

23andMe’s Ancestry Composition report is a living analysis that improves as we add new reference data. Underlying our Ancestry reports are powerful algorithms and analytical tools developed by 23andMe population geneticists and engineers to offer our customers more insights into their ancestral origins.

Recently, we’ve updated results for people with connections to French and German Groups in North America, South Asia, Greece and the Balkans, and African American Groups, for instance.

Curious if you’re connected? Discover 23andMe’s Ancestry Service and more.

Below are the Genetic Groups 23andMe has added as part of this update:

• Big Blue River Basin Early Czech Americans

• Big Blue River Basin Mennonites

• Burelson County Early Czech Americans

• Bushveld European South Africans

• Canadian Great Plains Mennonites

• Central Minnesota Early Finnish Americans

• Early Czech Americans from Kewanee and Manitowoc Counties

• Early Czech Americans from Wharton and Fort Bend Counties

• Early Polish Americans from Robertson and Harris Counties

• Eastern Cape European South Africans

• Flint River Basin Early Polish Americans

• Greater Milwaukee Early Polish Americans

• Greater Winnipeg Mennonites

• Hughveld European South Africans

• Huron County Early Polish Americans

• Indian Amish

• Iron County Early Finnish Americans

• Kashubian Canadians

• Keweenaw Bay Early Finnish Americans

• Lake Keekannauan Early Polish Americans

• Lancaster County Amish

• Lavaka River Basin Early Czech Americans

• Lower Delaware River Basin Mennonites

• Lower Platte River Basin Mennonites

• Lower Susquehanna River Basin Mennonites

• Mennonites from the Red and Siene River Basins

• Navidad River Basin Early Czech Americans

• Nebraska Till Plains Early Czech Americans

• Northeastern Michigan Early Polish Americans

• Northern Ohio Mennonites

• Penbina Valley Mennonites

• Pestigo River Basin Early Polish Americans

• Portage County Early Polish Americans

• Saginaw Bay and Lake St. Clair Early Polish Americans

• San Gabriel River Basin Early Polish Czech Americans

• Shenandoah Valley Mennonites

• Somerset County Amish

• Southern Great Lakes Mennonites

• Southern Ontario Mennonites

• The Prairies and Great Plaines Mennonites

• Upper Mississippi River Basin Early Polish Americans

• Upper Peninsula and Iron Range Early Finnish Americans

• Vaal River Basin European South Africans

• West Michigan Early Polish Americans

• Williamson County Early Czech Americans

The post European Diaspora Genetic Groups Update first appeared on Family Tree.

MyHeritage Recommends Uploading Your DNA Data 8 Mar 2025, 3:00 pm

Already taken a DNA test with another service? Now’s your time to get even more from your results — for free! For a limited time, you can upload your DNA data to MyHeritage and unlock advanced features for free, forever. We support DNA data from Ancestry, FamilyTreeDNA (FamilyFinder), and 23andMe.

For each NEW DNA file that you upload this week, you’ll gain access to features like the Ethnicity Estimate, Genetic Groups, and DNA Matches, plus all the tools you need to explore your relationship to your matches, saving you the usual $29 unlock fee per file. But hurry up: This exciting offer is only available until March 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

This is the perfect opportunity to explore our upgraded Ethnicity Estimate model, which now covers 79 ethnicities nearly doubling the previous 42! Users are calling it a “huge improvement” and “the most accurate” they’ve seen. Some even say they’re “the best DNA results I’ve ever received” compared to other services.

This offer is valid for new DNA files that are uploaded to MyHertiage for the first time. It does not apply to DNA files uploaded in the past.

Uploading your DNA to MyHeritage can unlock incredible discoveries. For Lorraine Williams, a MyHeritage user in Canada, it led to a life-changing reunion with two long-lost siblings in the U.K. she never knew existed!

Why Upload To My Heritage?

• High-resolution ethnicity reports covering 79 ethnicities and 2,114 geographical regions

• Huge global DNA database

• The best service for European DNA matching

• Innovative tools for tracing your relationship to DNA Matches

• Full privacy controls: only you can see your data

• MyHeritage is the only DNA company that has committed to never sell or license users’ data to third parties.

A few weeks ago we released Ancient Origins, a fascinating DNA feature that traces your origins back 10,000 years. Ancient Origin reports are calculated based on your existing DNA results on MyHeritage, so there’s no need to take a new test. As a premium feature on MyHeritage, Ancient Origins is not included in the suite of advanced DNA features, and a Complete or Omni subscription is required to access the reports.

What’s Included In This Special Offer:

• Ethnicity Estimate and Genetic Groups: Pinpoint where your family came from across 79 ethnicities and 2,114 geographic regions

• Chromosome Browser: Visually explore the DNA segments you share with a DNA Match 

• Auto Clusters: View your DNA Matches as clusters that likely descended from common ancestors
  
• Theory of Family Relativity: Leverage MyHeritage’s powerful technology that uses family trees and historical records to craft theories about relationships between DNA Matches

• All other genetic genealogy features

The post MyHeritage Recommends Uploading Your DNA Data first appeared on Family Tree.

Expanding Your Indian Ancestral Knowledge With DNA 7 Mar 2025, 3:00 pm

Knowledge of one’s Indian (or other Asian) heritage is most often relegated to only the most recent generations, Simran K. Puri Noon, Professional Genealogist at Ancestry, reported. In genealogy circles, we know that it is often difficult to extend our Indian family lines further back in time. Colonization, migratory patterns, a vast number of local languages and dialects, and a lack of formal record-keeping can make tracing family history in these parts of the world particularly challenging.

Traditionally, the best way to begin researching your Indian heritage is by starting at home and then exploring the migration-related records on Ancestry. Today advances in DNA science can help us better understand our Asian origins and decipher the subtle differences in the heritage of the people in these regions.

According to Simran K. Puri Noon: Many times, my own extended Indian family would ask, “Why do I need a DNA test to tell me that I am Indian?” However, as more individuals have tested and DNA science has become more sophisticated, the level of detail in our results has grown. 

We can more specifically pinpoint our family’s recent geographic origins by regions within India. And, where record sets might end for many Indian families in the early to mid-1900s, the newest ancestral journeys available on Ancestry can provide a window into our past, extending our understanding of our origins.

 Understanding Your Asian Family Origins

Simran K. Puri Noon wrote: In my own family, I grew up with a clear understanding that my father’s family were Sikhs from the Punjab region, who were know as being the “warrior” class. However, because the Sikh religion rejects India’s historic notion of caste, and because of the political turmoil that the Punjab region when through during the 1947 Partition and independence of India from Great Britain, I knew little else about the family’s origins or even my ancestral paternal clan. 

Sadly, by the time I became interested in this family history, my father and grandparents had passed, and I could only trace my family tree on that side to my paternal great-grandparents.

Like many Asian countries, India has a rich genetic diversity due to its complex history of migrations, invasions, and cultural exchanges. This diversity in DNA can, upon analysis, reveal connections to various regions and ethnic groups within and beyond. 

While my family’s earliest documents recorded by my paternal grandfather’s birth in 1917 in Rawalpindi, British India, my DNA results extended our origins by almost another 100 years and revealed genetic ties to the Khatri and Arora Punjabi clans.

Overcoming the Matriarchal Block

One of the most powerful aspects of DNA testing is its ability to connect individuals with long-lost ancestors, even when we don’t know their names. Because an AncestryDNA test looks at your autosomal DNA you can gather information from your family lines.

This is important because most Asian cultural are patriarchal. Even when ancestral family lines are recorded on scrolls and temples, they typically only record the names of males going back in time. 

Additionally, by using SideVew Technology, you can see your ancestral journeys separated by the parent your inherited them from. This offers extra insight into origins that stem from the ancestral mothers in our lines, providing us with a more complete and nuanced understanding of our heritage.

The post Expanding Your Indian Ancestral Knowledge With DNA first appeared on Family Tree.

RootsTech 2025 Starts Today! 6 Mar 2025, 10:20 pm

RootsTech 2025 has finally begun, with both in-person at the Salt Palace Convention Center and online at RootsTech.org. This year, the world’s largest genealogy conference is available in 20 languages!  Hundreds of classes are being offered that will help you discover your ancestors, preserve family memories, and create connections.

Did You Know That RootsTech Online Is Free?

Now that RootsTech has begun, you can participate in the virtual RootsTech 2025 experience for free! You can view live-streamed keynote presentation and online classes — all while enjoying the comfort of your own home. Many on-demand videos will remain available after the conference ends.

A you navigate RootsTech online, you can chat with vendors, relative, professional genealogists, and other RootsTech attendees, participate in virtual activities and visit the virtual Expo Hall.

What Can I See And Do At RootsTech?

We have lots of content for you to enjoy at RootsTech, either virtually or in person. With over 1,500 classes already in the RootsTech Video Library, this year’s conference features 500 new class sessions in over 20 languages. Classes cover topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) in genealogy, harnessing the power of genetics for family history, activities to connect to your family to your ancestors, and more!

RootsTech 2025 also has keynote sessions from celebrity visitors, over 126 exhibitors in the Expo Hall, and millions of participants. Don’t hesitate to discover fun experiences and make new connections this year!

Where Can I Find Help At RootsTech?

At RootsTech 2025, hundreds of FamilySearch staff and multiple help resources are dedicated to making sure your experience is smooth sailing.

Chat: Use RootsTech’s chat feature on RootsTech.org to converse with conference experts, speakers, and fellow participants.

Free Genealogy Consultations: If you would like assistance, complementary one-on-one research consultations are available, with various languages options.

Customer Service: If you have any injuries or feedback, don’t hesitate to contact us via email at info@rootstech.org.

What Is RootsTech?

RootsTech is a place to learn, be inspired, and make connections through family history. Hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by other leading genealogy organizations, RootsTech has hundreds of expert classes, tips and tricks videos, and inspiring stories that can help you experience family history like never before.  Visit our on-demand learning library, or make plans to join us for our next virtual or in-person conference event.

The post RootsTech 2025 Starts Today! first appeared on Family Tree.

Monument Honors About 450 Black People In Unmarked Graves 19 Feb 2025, 3:00 pm

On a recent gray day with a cold wind blowing, Ernest Rector looked over a mostly empty plot of land dotted with a few headstones at the Taylor City Cemetery. The 96-year-old pointed to the tombstone of his grandfather, who was freed after being a slave. But Rector can’t show where several of his other relatives are buried.

An estimated 450 Black people are buried in unmarked graves in the northwestern part of Taylor City Cemetery, a part of the burial ground that was segregated for African Americans, said Morgan Cook, who runs the cemetery for the city.

Those in unmarked graves often had temporary markers, including wooden crosses or small metal plaques from funeral homes, Rector said. “They didn’t have the money to buy tombstones,” he said.

A monument to recognize the African Americans with unmarked graves buried from 1870 to 2023, was erected at the cemetery last fall.  A dedication ceremony for it took place Saturday to kick off Black History Month, said Frances Sorrow, president of the Taylor Conservation and Heritage Association.

Sorrow said Rector told her about the issue with the unmarked graves about three years ago, and she decided the association needed to do something about it.

“It was the need to have that part of the cemetery recognized as a sacred burial ground because it looked like an empty field,” she said. “I felt very strongly that I at least wanted people to know when they step on it, they are stepping on sacred ground.”

She said the association paid for the $6,000 monument with help from the Leo Livingston Fund, which was established to help nonprofits in Taylor. The city donated the part of the land in the cemetery where the monument, a black granite slab, is located. The slab is 3 feet high and 4 feet wide. Sorrow said she got support from the City Council for the project, especially Council Member Gerald Anderson.

“It’s important for me to give a marker to those who have gone unnoticed and forgotten for decades,” said Anderson. “They say the dead do not rest until their grave is marked. Hopefully, this will bring their souls some peace … I feel this marker will also bring some respect and dignity to them as well.”

The top of the granite monument says, “Historic African American Burial Section.” The monument also says, “In loving memory of our citizens whose memorials have been lost to time.” The bottom of the slab has a Bible verse from 2 Samuel 1:23: “In life they were loved and admired and in death they were not parted.”

There are records that show the names of the people buried in the section for Black people whose markers have been lost to time, said Cook. He is putting the names in a database that people will be able to access online to find their ancestors. He already developed a database of people buried in marked graves, which is accessible on the city website. The website also offers tours of the cemetery online.

The post Monument Honors About 450 Black People In Unmarked Graves first appeared on Family Tree.

MyHeritage Introduces MyStories 15 Feb 2025, 3:00 pm

We’re excited to announce the launch of MyStories, a new global service that enables you to capture your personal stories in a beautiful printed book that your family can treasure forever!

For 21 years, MyHeritage has inspired millions of people worldwide to discover more about who they are and where they belong. While family trees, historical records, and photos are integral to family history — the stories, memories and anecdotes that form the essence of life often go undocumented. MyStories encourages people to capture their stories and preserve them for future generations in high-quality hardcover books, ensuring their stories are cherished for posterity.

With MyStories, anyone can be the proud author of a book that will be an heirloom for their family for many years to come. MyStories is an ideal gift for a parent or grandparent in their golden years, giving them the opportunity to reminisce about life experiences and preserve their memories. MyStories also makes a rewarding gift for oneself.

How It Works

MyStories simplifies the seemingly daunting task of writing a memoir by sending the storyteller — either you or a loved one — one email per week with a thoughtful question about a specific memory or milestone, such as the story of meeting one’s spouse or words of advice for future generations.

The storyteller can simply reply to the emails and attack any photos they would like to include. The questions can be modified suit the storyteller and the focus of the book, and can be rearranged as desired. 

Storytellers can answer once a week over the course of the year, or at a different pace, according to their preference. When purchasing MyStories as a gift for someone else, the recipient will receive the email prompts directly. All it takes is an email — no technical know-how is necessary. 

The stories can be reviewed and edited at any time. Once the book is ready, the storyteller or the person who gave them the gift can customize the color, color photo, and title, and the beautifully bound hardcover book will be printed and shipped to them.

Inside a MyStories book

A MyStories book measures 6×9 inches (15×23 cm) and is printed in full color. It’s not a fixed format, so if you want to include several photos for a single story, or several pages of photos, that’s fine.

Genealogists are already loving MyStories

We gave some leading family history experts early access to MyStories and they came back with sparkling eyes. Janna Helshtein of DNA at Eye Level said, “I had no idea how many stories were hidden inside me. As soon as I started answering the questions, the stories just poured out. It was very emotional.” 

James Tanner, author of Genealogy’s Star blog, commented “As I get older, I have become aware of how little my 34 grandchildren know about me and my life. MyStories provide a way for me to make my life known for posterity and to preserve the stories that make our family who we are!”

Storytelling Tips

Every story is meaningful, and the details are what make it unforgettable. When writing your stories, dig in and describe the moments, emotions, and experiences. Imaging you’re telling your story to future generations, so they can better understand your life.

The questions are only a guide to inspire you; you can take the story in any direction you choose.

Start with whatever comes to mind first and then let the words flow

Be descriptive — paint a picture with your words, and add details so the reader can reimagine the scene

Take your time — you don’t need to write the stories in one sitting. Let them unfold naturally.

The post MyHeritage Introduces MyStories first appeared on Family Tree.

Smartwatches Might Predict Psychiatric Illnesses Tied To Genetics 13 Feb 2025, 3:00 pm

Over the past couple of years, the medical science community has shifted its attention to wearables in a serious fashion, thanks to their mass uptake. Those efforts have yielded some remarkable results in the efficacy and potential of these wearable devices, Digital Trends reported.

The latest such scientific revelation comes from the experts at the University of Barcelona. In a paper published in the Cell journal, the team described how smartwatches can be used to accurately detect psychological disorders using biomarkers.

Using the data provided by continuous monitoring from a smartwatch, the team behind the latest research was able to identify 16 significant genetic loci and 37 psychiatric-associated genes.

“Our methodology has made it possible, for the first time, to simultaneously analyze the relationship between genetics and the different measures provided by smartwatches,” notes co-author of the paper, Diego Garrido Martín.

The team trained an AI model that took into account physiological information collected using smartwatch sensors. As part of the study, data was collected from over five thousand participants ages 9-14 years using Fitbit smartwatches.

Experts used wearable measurements such as heart rate, calories, steps, workout intensity, sleep level, and more. When fed to an AI model, the team was able to create a digital phenotype or in simpler terms, a set of observable traits collected in a digital format.

Tying Smartwatch Data To Genetics

These digital phenotypes, for the first time, offer an alternative approach to prediction, or diagnosis of psychiatric illnesses that would otherwise require an in-person consultation with a certified expert. But more importantly, the wearable-based approach also ties into the genetic depth of such disorders.

“One advantage of doing this is that we can use the digital phenotype almost as a diagnostic tool or a biomarker, and also bridge the gap between disease and genetics,” one of the co-authors, Jason Liu, explained.

The core challenge here is creating a reliable system that can process all the data provided by a smartwatch and derive accurate conclusions. The team argues that the sensor data provides enough details about physical and behavioral patterns that we can tie them to psychiatric illnesses with a high degree of reliability.

“These measurements quantify an individual’s physiological processes and their real-time changes in response to environmental stimuli, and they can thus provide key information about an individual’s behavior,” says the research paper.

For example, sleep analysis proved to be the more important factor when it comes to diagnosing anxiety, while heart rate proved to be a more valuable tool for predicting behavioral development woes such as Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

A New Dawn For Psychiatry

The latest research marks the first time that digital phenotype data collected from real-time monitoring using smartwatches have been linked to psychiatric illnesses and the genetic profile of a person.

The latter is the most promising element of the new research. We are talking about a fundamental shift in how we diagnose and prescribe cures for psychological illnesses, moving beyond the traditional behavioral analysis and into a territory where biomarkers and physiological data play a crucial role.

“Their findings may serve as inspiration to move beyond traditional clinical diagnosis and adopt quantitative behavioral measurements that may be of greater use in identifying genetic biomarkers,” says the team.

The post Smartwatches Might Predict Psychiatric Illnesses Tied To Genetics first appeared on Family Tree.