All articles tagged with #ashkenazi jews
A genetic mutation that provides HIV resistance to some Ashkenazi Jews also increases their risk of severe illness from West Nile fever, which is more common in Israel than in northern Europe.
A database containing the personal information of 999,999 individuals with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, allegedly obtained from genetic testing service 23andMe, has been leaked on dark web forums. The database includes names, gender, and ancestral information, and is titled "ashkenazi DNA Data of Celebrities," although most individuals on the list are not famous. NBC News has verified the authenticity of the data breach for two 23andMe users.
Genetic testing company 23andMe confirmed that a subset of its users' data has been compromised in a targeted attack. The attackers obtained login credentials of some users and scraped more information from the DNA Relatives feature. The leaked data, initially posted on BreachForums, includes profiles of Ashkenazi Jews and users of Chinese descent. The company stated that its systems were not breached and encouraged users to strengthen their passwords and enable two-factor authentication. The validity of the leaked data is still being investigated, including the inclusion of "celebrities" like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. The incident raises concerns about the security of sensitive genetic information and the risks of sharing it on platforms designed for social networking.
A recent study by Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine found that Ashkenazi Jews are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease due to their genetic makeup. The study conducted a genome-wide association study for AD in a sample of 3,500 people whose ancestry was almost exclusively Ashkenazi Jewish, identifying several genetic risk factors for AD, including some previously known and several novel ones that are strong biological candidates. The findings may lead to the development of novel AD biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Researchers have identified several new genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease unique to Ashkenazi Jews through a genome-wide association study. The study found that some AD susceptibility variants are more frequent in this group compared to much larger and more genetically heterogeneous EA cohorts. The researchers identified several genetic risk factors for AD including some previously known and several novel ones that are strong biological candidates. The findings may lead to the development of novel AD biomarkers and therapeutic targets.