Gene Mutation Behind Short Sleep

Scientists have identified a small group of people called the 'sleepless elite'.

Scientists have identified a small group of people called the 'sleepless elite'. These group of people rather being tired, bad-tempered, under-achievers, they are an energetic, outgoing and optimistic group who can happily and healthily get by on just four or five hours of shut-eye a night.

They also tend to be slim, able to hold down two jobs at the same time, and breeze through their extra-long days without needing caffeine pick-me-ups or catnaps.

About Sleep Disorder
Sleep disorders can either be having difficulty in getting sleep or dozing off at inappropriate time.

American scientists who studied an extended family in California focused on a mother and daughter who appeared perfectly healthy despite their shared lifelong habit of getting up early in the morning, having gone to bed close to midnight.

A DNA test showed they had a tiny mutation in a gene called hDEC2 - but it was missing in other family members who slept normally.

When mice were genetically engineered to have the mutation, they too struggled to sleep.

Quiz on Sleep Disorder
The comfort of modern life comes at the cost of restful sleep! "Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone-Anthony Burgess" Scientifically it is proven that a good night's sleep is imperative for maintaining a balance between the physical, emotional and behavioral well-being of a person.

Working out how the gene cuts sleep without any obvious impact on health could help in the design of drugs that give us all a few extra hours in our day.

The bad news is that while many people get by on a few hours' sleep a night, just 1 to 3 people in 100 qualifies as a member of the sleepless elite. Everyone else is simply sleep deprived.

Sleeping Disorders
How many times have you stayed awake in the dead of the night counting sheep? If it is fairly often then you could be suffering from a sleep disorder!

Source-ANI

Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Measure your daytime sleepiness using this simple interactive tool, based on Epworth Sleepiness disorder Scale. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a type of hypersomnia characterized by persistent sleepiness and lack of energy.