The secret of those who stay vigorous with 4 hours of sleep: A new genetic mutation has been discovered

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco in the US first detected this mutation in a human. They then tested its effects on genetically modified mice. The results of the study were published in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) on May 5.

Mice with the mutation slept an average of 31 minutes less than normal, up to 54 minutes less when sleep deprived. The mutation is thought to have a greater impact on humans because the mice are genetically very similar to each other and sleep much more than humans (about 12 hours a day).

"These people can do everything their bodies do during sleep more quickly and more efficiently," said neurologist and geneticist Ying-Hui Fu, one of the study's co-authors. Our bodies detox and repair damage while we sleep, and naturally short sleepers can complete these processes much faster.

While sleep deprivation normally causes fatigue, forgetfulness and an increased risk of heart disease, individuals with this rare mutation do not experience such side effects. In fact, it has been reported that these individuals feel unwell when they sleep for long periods of time.

Previous studies have identified four different genes and five mutations in these genes that are associated with short sleep. The newly discovered SIK3-N783Y is the sixth mutation in the SIK3 gene, which was previously known to be linked to sleepiness.

By understanding these genetic differences, researchers aim to develop more effective treatments for common sleep disorders like insomnia in the future. They hope that the sleep efficiency of naturally short sleepers could be used to improve the overall sleep health of society.