A Genetic Mutation Enables Functioning on Just 4 Hours of Sleep OsakaWayne Studios – Getty Images”Please be advised that Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may receive compensation through affiliate links.”Many of us stumble around like zombies without a full 8 or 9 hours of sleep. However, a recent study reveals that some individuals possess a genetic mutation that allows them to feel fully energized after only half as much sleep. How fortunate.Sleep is crucial for the body to detoxify and eliminate waste from the brain. While the average person requires 8 to 9 hours for this process, individuals with what is known as the “short sleep” mutation can achieve this in just 3 to 6 hours. Neuroscientist Ying-Hui Fu, who studies genetic mutations related to sleep, has identified a new mutation contributing to natural short sleep (NSS), in addition to the five previously known mutations. This new mutation impacts the SIK3 gene, which plays a role in regulating metabolism, energy, and circadian rhythm. The findings of this study are now published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.“Our bodies continue working while we sleep, detoxifying and repairing themselves,” Fu explained in a recent statement. “Those with the short sleep mutation are able to perform these functions at a heightened level compared to the rest of us.”Fu’s interest in genetic factors influencing sleep duration was sparked by a mother and daughter duo who felt refreshed after sleeping six hours or less. Through genetic analysis, a rare mutation in the DEC2 gene was uncovered, which affects the circadian rhythm by interacting with the MyoD1 gene, ultimately regulating the expression of the orexin neuropeptide. Orexin, produced by the hypothalamus, promotes wakefulness. The DEC2 mutation leads to increased orexin levels, allowing short sleepers to awaken after minimal sleep without experiencing excessive daytime drowsiness, unlike individuals with narcolepsy, which is characterized by a deficiency in orexin.SIK3 is involved in managing both the need for sleep and the quantity of NREM (non-rapid-eye-movement) sleep each night. This gene is most active in synapses, the junctions between neurons where signals are transmitted, and is predominantly expressed in the cerebellum and adrenal glands. By modifying mice to possess the SIK3 mutation, Fu observed that these mice required 30 minutes less sleep than usual (approximately 12 hours). While SIK3 may not be the primary determinant of NSS, its synapse-related activity suggests a potential role in resetting the brain to reduce the sleep requirement.A separate study linked another SIK3 mutation to hypersomnia, a condition characterized by excessive sleepiness. It was identified that one specific amino acid, S551, within this gene is particularly influential in sleep regulation. Understanding such genetic mutations may pave the way for future interventions in sleep disorders like narcolepsy or insomnia.“These discoveries enhance our comprehension of the genetic foundations of sleep,” Fu and her research
Explore the wider significance of kinase function in regulating sleep across different species, and offer additional evidence for potential treatment approaches to improve sleep quality. One day, waking up feeling exhausted might be a thing of the past.
