They Snooze Less, But They Don't Lose
Genetic mutation could explain why some of us function fine on six hours a night.
THURSDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- A lucky few can get by just fine on six hours of sleep, and a new study suggests a genetic mutation might help explain why.
The finding doesn't appear likely to help people with insomnia. Still, it "opens a door" to greater understanding of why people sleep as long as they do, said study co-author Ying-Hui Fu, a professor of neurology at the University of California at San Francisco.
Armed with this research, scientists may be able to eventually develop safe ways to tinker with people's bodies so that they can sleep less, she said. "At the same time, we'll feel fine."
According to Fu, about 5 percent of people get by on six hours or less of sleep a night without any ill effects. "They're perfectly fine, and they don't have a problem," she said. "For them, six hours is like eight hours for me."
For most people, however, eight or 8.5 hours of sleep are best, she said.
"We spend one-third of our life in a state of sleep, and we know that sleep is required. If you deprive any mortal organism of sleep, it will die," Fu said. "But we don't know what is regulating how much we need. That's the bottom line about why this study is exciting."
Fu and her colleagues examined the DNA of a mother and daughter who each get by on about six hours of sleep and compared it to that of other family members. They report their findings in the Aug. 13 online issue of Science.
The researchers found that the women shared a genetic mutation but other members of their family did not. Further research found that mice with the mutation slept less and recovered more quickly after being deprived of sleep.
It's not clear, however, how the mutation actually affects sleep patterns.
Future research could provide more insight into how the mutation works, and Fu said her dream is to find a way to create a drug that would allow people to sleep less.
This could have benefits beyond more wakefulness. Studies have shown that people who sleep an average amount of 30 to 60 minutes below average live the longest, said Dr. Daniel F. Kripke, emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Diego.
But genetics are only part of the picture, he said.
"Sleep amounts seem to be determined as much as 50 percent by genetics, and the rest by habits, social and work situations, recreation -- exercise, the Internet and late-night TV -- and environmental factors such as noise and light," he said.
As for the new study, Kripke cautioned that even if the genetic mutation does affect sleep, it's not clear if that helps people who have it. "We do not know if the amount that the people with the variation are sleeping is good or bad for them," he said. "We do not know if the gene effect should be called 'sleep deprivation' or 'enhanced energy.'"
The National Sleep Foundation has more about sleeping smart.
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I agree 100% with epco 17!
I have all my life troubles at work, since I need to spend arround 9 hrs sleep and thing comes worst since I am a nocturnal person Is impossible to wake up before 10 am and imposible to sleep before 2:00 am all these studies shall work around the individual Biometrics, we have different functions and different sleep needs, I have at least 10 years trying to find a way to change my sleeping habit , and all points to be imposible, its like a program that was recorded on my genetics , and I cant brake this.
If someone has something good to advise to people who can spend 14 hrs sleeping with non stop please advise is welcome, my mail sberacha@hotmail.com
Regards
This study makes me sick. I can guarantee that this study is being funded by large corporations whose ultimate goal is to increase their profits by finding a way, either by drugs or genetic engineering, to make people sleep less. In the future, anybody who needs 8 hours of sleep will be considered lazy by employers. People who can't get by on 4 hours of sleep or less will be required to get treatment for their "DISORDER" or be hopped up on energy drinks all day. Otherwise, no job for them. The average work week is always increasing in length and vacation and sick time are decreasing. The next logical step for employers is to make their employees sleep less and still be as productive as before. If a person can work two shifts in a day without getting tired, that eliminates the need to hire the person who would have worked that second shift. The public really should be suspicious of this study.
Armed with this research, scientists may be able to eventually develop safe ways to tinker with people's bodies so that they can sleep less, she said. "At the same time, we'll feel fine."
So what they are really saying with this new found knowledge they are going to start modifying humans so people like me (blue-collar workers) are going to be able to work harder and longer with "no side-effects" and the big business will just reap the benefits. I don't know why we don't all just become robots. I'm sure we could do with only maybe 2-3 hours of sleep if our entire bodies were machine but the brain remained human. Humans should be able to sleep until they feel refreshed. I feel that when I sleep until I wake up (6-8 hours)from my own accord I have a much better day.will I'm sleep 5 hours each day
then after 3 days i sleeping more than 10 hours
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