The Genetics of Motion Sickness

Motion Sickness: Genetics Plays a Role 1 in3 57%+ 35 people suffer from motion sickness of the variation in risk for motion sickness is due to genetics genetic variants associated with motion sickness were discovered by 23andMe 23andMe researchers made new correlations between motion sickness and these phenotypes": Associated with lower risk Associated with higher risk for motion sickness: for motion sickness: • Good sense of direction • Poor sleep • Experiencing a headache after drinking red wine • Ability to handle stress 23andMe research confirmed the correlation between motion sickness and: postoperative morning sickness nausea and vertigo migraines vomiting (PONV) More fun facts: Motion sickness occurs more frequently in people of Asian ancestry. Genetic factors associated with Younger people tend to be more motion sickness display up to 3x stronger effects in women. motion sick. Hromatka BS, Tung JY, Kiefer AK, Do CB, Hinds DA, Eriksson N (2015) Genetic variants associated with motion sickness point to roles for inner ear development, neurological processes, and glucose homeostasis. Hum Mol Genet. Sherman CR (2002) Motion sickness: review of causes and preventive strategies. J Travel Med 9: 251-256. 23andMe Reavley CM, Golding JF, Cherkas LF, Spector TD, MacGregor AJ (2006) Genetic influences on motion sickness susceptibility in adult women: a classical twin study. Aviat Space Environ Med 77: 1148-1152. Data from a GWAS of 80,494 research participants. All research participants are 23andMe customers who provided informed consent to take part in this research under a protocol approved by the AAHRPP-accredited institutional review board, Ethical and Independent Review Services. *It is difficult to assess causality for these phenotype-phenotype associations. For example, does being a sound sleeper make one less susceptible to being motion sick, or vice versa, or are both related to a third condition? Some of the correlated phenotypes are not established comorbidities or symptoms of motion sickness and do not have an obvious biological relationship to motion sickness.