Why Can Some People Thrive On Just Four Hours Of Sleep?
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The sleep-wake cycle is impacted by a mutation, which may result in less sleep and maybe deeper sleep.
Humans need sleep to function properly. That is what we have been taught for decades and science backs it. But not everyone requires the same quantity of sleep to endure the craziness of this world. Even though some people need seven to nine hours of sleep every day, others may get by with just four to six hours. For those of us who need our eight hours of sleep every day, these short sleepers are just as well-rested as the rest of us.
Scientists have now identified a unique genetic mutation that benefits these individuals, who survive on just four hours of sleep.
Study Conducted
According to research that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, individuals who have a natural short sleep (NSS) feature have a mutation that impacts how long they sleep.
One volunteer for the study was a 70-year-old natural short sleeper. An organised interview was conducted with the healthy woman, who reported her regular sleep-wake habits. Medical Xpress reports that wrist actigraphy was used to capture her sleep habits.
The actigraph device indicated an average of 6.3 hours of sleep every night, despite the volunteer reporting a three-hour bedtime every day. To find the genetic variations that might be causing her to sleep exceptionally well, the researchers took samples of her DNA and performed whole-exome sequencing. They found a mutation in the salt-induced kinase 3 (SIK3) protein kinase, N783Y.
Now, scientists claim that one of these mutations changes SIK3's protein structure. According to the Independent report, the mutation N783Y, which alters the structure of this gene, is crucial in determining wakefulness and sleep patterns.
The SIK3-N783Y mutation was examined by the researchers in genetically altered mice, which were observed to sleep an average of thirty minutes less per night than normal mice. They found that the mutation caused structural alterations that hindered the protein's capacity to transmit essential phosphate molecules to other proteins. This leads to a shorter sleep duration.
The Significance Of The Study
Lack of sleep can lead to some negative health consequences, such as an increased risk of heart disease and the early development of diseases like Alzheimer's.
Even with fewer hours of sleep, those with this uncommon mutation can be completely refreshed, in contrast to those who require at least seven hours of sleep. The study found that short sleepers thrive on less sleep and may even feel 'worse" if they get more.
Researchers think the new study will help them create better sleep disorders therapies and enhance the quality of sleep.
You now understand why you possess that superpower if you are a short sleeper.
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