A gene mutation many would like to have

Years ago, I attended a workshop for fitness trainers led by a sleep psychologist who taught at the University of California, Los Angeles. Several facets of sleep were discussed, including individuals she described as anomalies. In fact, she said that out of the hundreds of patients she’s worked with, she’s met just two.

What made these people so unusual was that they didn’t just get by on little sleep, but they actually thrived. With just 4 to 5 hours each night, they exhibited strong mental alertness, acuity, and energy. Additionally, none of the physiological impacts of sleep deprivation were present, such as metabolic syndrome (hypertension, high blood sugar, and body fat), type 2 diabetes, low testosterone, GI disorders, or reduced muscle mass.

It’s estimated that these individuals, referred to as “naturally short sleepers (NSS),” make up less than 1% of the US population, while the Centers for Disease Control estimate that approximately 70 million have a sleep disorder. Now, scientists are one step closer to understanding how the NSS can function with so little shut-eye.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified a gene mutation in the SIK3 gene in a short sleeper. When this mutation was transferred to lab mice, they were able to function on less rest. Four other mutations have been identified as contributors to the natural short sleep trait, and scientists are hopeful that further discoveries will lead to breakthroughs in solving sleep and circadian rhythm disorders.

Learn more about the SIK3 gene discovery and its potential impacts in this article from Earth.com.
https://www.earth.com/news/rare-gene-explains-why-some-people-can-thrive...