Are You a “Short Sleeper”? Thrive on Just Three Hours?

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  EXPLORE FURTHER: Researchers explain why hitting the snooze button is always a bad idea
  

It’s commonly emphasized that we should aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night to reap its advantages.

However, a recent study has shown that a select few individuals can flourish with just three hours of sleep each night.

While the rest of us might doze off at our desks or catch some Zs on the train, they seem wide-awake and full of energy.

Currently, experts have identified a novel genetic variation associated with ‘short sleeper syndrome’.

It might also aid in developing therapies for sleep issues like insomnia and sleep apnea.

Are you among the fortunate ones who can thrive with only a handful of hours of sleep?

“Our bodies remain active even as we sleep, engaging in processes like detoxification and repair,” said co-author Ying-Hui Fu, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco.
Nature
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These individuals, all of these processes our body carries out during sleep, operate at a more advanced level than what we’re capable of achieving when awake.

Ever since the beginning of the 21st century, Professor Fu along with her team has been studying the genetics of individuals who require only six hours or fewer of sleep each night.

Up until now, they have pinpointed five mutations across four genes that may play a role in developing this characteristic.

This encompasses a single gene that aids in controlling the circadian rhythm – the internal mechanism that regulates our sleep-wake cycle.

A segment of the most recent update
study
The researchers looked for novel mutations in the DNA of a naturally short sleeper who averaged about 6.3 hours of sleep each night.

They found one in SIK3, a gene responsible for producing a specific kind of protein that transmits chemical messages to other proteins, prompting them to alter their functionality.

The researchers discovered that mice carrying the same genetic alteration also experienced reduced sleep time, albeit only slightly.

These creatures usually sleep for about 12 hours daily, whereas those with the genetic alteration got approximately 31 minutes less rest.

The study revealed that the genetic alteration could reduce sleep duration by enhancing the brain’s capacity for self-regulation and maintaining a balanced state.

As the mice experienced only a small loss of sleep, this suggests that the SIK3 mutation does not significantly contribute to decreased sleep requirements, according to Clifford Saper, a neurologist from Harvard Medical School located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Nevertheless, it undoubtedly has some effect.

“This research aligns perfectly with our current knowledge of SIK3, which could aid us in comprehending the mechanisms behind drowsiness,” he stated.

The scientists aim to identify sufficient genetic variations in natural short sleepers to gain deeper insights into the regulation of sleep in humans, potentially leading to new treatments for sleep disorders.

Well-known individuals like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher were known to have slept very little, with reports suggesting they managed on as few as four or five hours of rest per night. Nevertheless, such a practice is not recommended for the typical individual.

According to a study conducted in 2022, individuals who sleep for fewer than five hours each night during their later years may increase their chances of developing a long-term illness by twenty percent.

The study examined data from 7,864 Britons who reported their typical weekday sleep duration when they were 50, 60, and 70 years old.

Over a span of 25 years, these individuals were monitored to determine whether they developed one of 13 prevalent chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, or dementia.

Individuals who are 50 years old and get only five hours of sleep each night or less are 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with one of 13 diseases for the first time when compared to their peers who sleep for seven hours nightly.

However, they were also at an increased risk of subsequently developing two or more of these conditions.

This indicates that insufficient sleep is not just associated with health issues in old age but also with numerous conditions that individuals may suffer from simultaneously, increasing their likelihood of being hospitalized and disabled.

Jo Whitmore, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, which supported the study, commented, “This research contributes to an increasing collection of evidence underscoring the significance of obtaining quality sleep.”

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