After 4 hours of sleep you can function as if you had 8. The key is genetic mutation

The discovery could be the key to unlocking the mystery of people who need just four to six hours of sleep to function at their best. Scientists described the SIK3-N783Y mutation in a recently published study.

"Super Sleepers" Can Do More. How Is That Possible?

There is a small group of people who, thanks to unique genetic mutations, feel refreshed after just a few hours of sleep. Scientists have just identified one such change in the SIK3 gene in humans and then tested its effects on the body in laboratory mice. It turned out that rodents with this mutation also needed less sleep, which confirmed the researchers' suspicions.

It’s just one of several known mutations that are linked to shortened sleep. Experts believe that understanding the genetic background of naturally short sleepers could lead to better treatments for insomnia and other sleep disorders.

“During sleep, our bodies continue to work hard, cleaning themselves and repairing damage,” explains Ying-Hui Fu, a co-author of the study and a neurogeneticist at the University of California, San Francisco. “In these exceptional individuals, all of these processes may be operating at a higher level than in the general population,” she adds.

The results were published on May 5 in the renowned journal PNAS.

The key turned out to be unique genes

Sleep deprivation is associated with many negative consequences, from problems with concentration, through memory loss, to an increased risk of heart disease. The amount of sleep needed to function properly changes with age, but adults are usually recommended to get between 7 and 9 hours a night. Meanwhile, people with this rare genetic trait function properly after just four to six hours. What's more, their bodies don't tolerate longer sleep than usual.

So far, scientists have identified four genes associated with short sleep and five significant mutations. The new finding concerns the SIK3 gene, which has previously been linked to sleepiness. Mice with the mutation slept an average of 31 minutes less than normal rodents, and after forced sleep deprivation – as much as 54 minutes less.

Normal mice sleep about 12 hours a day, so the change seems small. But the researchers speculate that it could be because mice have a more fragmented sleep cycle or because of inbreeding within a given strain.

Recent studies show that the SIK3 gene may become a key target for future therapies aimed at improving sleep quality and efficiency.

Read also: Do ​​you have this daily habit? Your brain may literally shrink because of it Read also: Poles are sleeping worse and worse. Expert: Employers are not investing in healthy sleep for employees