A rare genetic mutation, called SIK3-N783Y, allows some people to work perfectly with only 4 hours of sleep per night. The discovery could open the way to new treatments for sleep disorders, a recent study shows.
Some people can only sleep 4 hours a night and be resting photo: Archive
Some people can only sleep 4 hours a night and yet feel completely resting – and the reason could be a rare genetic mutation, according to a study published on May 5 in the Diary of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The research was related by Live Science magazine.
What is the SIK3-N783y mutation
The mutation, known as Sik3-N783y, was discovered following experiments on genetically modified mice. It is associated with a lower need for sleep and could be used to develop treatments for people suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders.
“Our organisms continue to work when we go to bed ”explained Ying-Hui Fu, neurologist and geneticist at the University of California, San Francisco, co-author. “It is detoxified and repaired. In the case of these people all these functions of the body we carry out during sleep are activated at a higher level“He told Nature.
I sleep less but more efficiently
Although most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to work well, people with this genetic mutation sleep only 4-6 hours and not only feel fit, but, according to the study, they may feel discomfort if they sleep longer than they need.
An added mutation to an increasing list
This mutation is the fifth of this type discovered so far. Researchers have previously identified four genes and five mutations associated with a short sleep duration. The new mutation affects the SIK3 gene, known for its role in regulating drowsiness.
During the study, mice with this mutation slept on average 31 minutes less than ordinary mice and 54 minutes less after they were deprived of sleep. Even though these figures seem small, the researchers say that they are significant, especially considering that the mice have a very different and much more fragmented sleep cycle than that of the people.
The new study suggests that the SIK3 gene could be a promising target for future therapies meant to improve the efficiency and quality of sleep, especially for those suffering from chronic sleep disorders.
