DNA App Spotlight: Better Sleep, Improved Moods and Managing Alzheimer's Risk

This spotlight covers three SelfDecode DNA apps available in the Partner Marketplace that use your genetic data to help you get better sleep, improve your mood, and understand your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

App Spotlight 1: Sleep DNA Wellness

According to the National Sleep Foundation, almost 40 percent of Americans report getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep per night. Whether you are an office worker or an athlete, sleep is as essential to your health as food or water. Studies have shown that adequate sleep can reduce stress, strengthen your immune system, increase athletic performance, and improve memory.

Getting more or better quality sleep is not as simple as going to bed earlier. Sleep is a complex biological process, governed by various hormones and neurotransmitters, and influenced by your environment and genetics. Your DNA plays a meaningful role in how well you sleep.

The Sleep DNA Wellness report from SelfDecode analyzes your genetic data to help you understand why you may struggle with sleep and what steps you can take to improve it. Based on findings from more than 100 peer-reviewed studies, the report covers:

• Genetic factors affecting sleep duration and quality
• Circadian rhythm predispositions including morning versus evening tendencies
• Risk factors for insomnia and other sleep disorders
• Personalized lifestyle and dietary recommendations to support better sleep based on your genetics

App Spotlight 2: Brain Health: Mental Health and Mood

Moods and emotions are a constant part of life, affecting attitudes, behaviors, and relationships. Your genetics play a significant role in controlling emotional balance and mood. Researchers have identified hundreds of genetic variations across dozens of different genes that can affect emotional state.

The Brain Health: Mental Health and Mood report from SelfDecode is built on findings from more than 250 peer-reviewed studies. It helps you understand the emotional patterns encoded in your genetics and provides personalized recommendations to support a more balanced mood. The report covers:

• Genetic predispositions to anxiety, depression, and stress sensitivity
• Neurotransmitter production and regulation markers
• Serotonin, dopamine, and other mood-related genetic variants
• Personalized dietary, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations to support emotional wellbeing

App Spotlight 3: Alzheimer's Risk (APOE Gene Analysis)

Apolipoprotein E, or APOE, is a protein whose primary role is the metabolism and transport of cholesterol and other fats in the bloodstream. Studies suggest that having a specific allele of the APOE gene can signal an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, chronic inflammation, and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

The APOE gene is one of the most significant known genetic indicators of late-onset Alzheimer's disease risk. Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disease that leads to a gradual loss of memory, judgment, and the ability to function. Research continues to show that it is possible to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's dementia even when genetic risk factors like APOE are present, making early awareness meaningful.

The Alzheimer's Risk report from SelfDecode analyzes your APOE allele and provides personalized insights and recommendations to help you manage your cardiovascular and brain health proactively. The report covers:

• Your specific APOE allele and what it means for your health risk profile
• Cardiovascular risk factors associated with your APOE status
• Evidence-based lifestyle recommendations to reduce Alzheimer's and dementia risk
• Dietary and supplementation guidance specific to your APOE genotype

How to Access These Reports

If you have already taken a DNA test from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, or another provider, you can upload your raw DNA data to Sequencing for free and run any of these reports from the Partner Marketplace. For the most complete analysis, Sequencing offers clinical grade whole genome sequencing that reads 100% of your DNA across all of your over 30,000 genes.