Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Sleep Paralysis Linked to Genetics, Anxiety & Stressful Events

Researchers from the University of Sheffield in England, have linked sleep paralysis to genetics and believe the disease may be heritable.Also, the researchers found those who experience anxiety, poor sleep, or had experienced stress were more likely to experience sleep paralysis. The study included 862 twins (identical and nonidentical) and other siblings (non-twins) between the ages of 22 and 32 in England and Wales. Each participant in the study indicated whether they agreed and disagree with the following statement:"Sometimes, when falling asleep or waking up from sleep, I experience a brief period during which I feel I am unable to move, even though I think I am awake and conscious of my surroundings". Next, researchers compared the responses of identical twins to non-identical twins and found that genes were responsible for more than 50 percent of reported occurrences of sleep paralysis. After, genes were individually studied to determine which genes could possibly linked to sleep paralysis by examining a gene called PER2 (linked to circadian rhythms). Researchers found that certain versions of this gene in people had an increase chance of having sleep paralysis. Despite the findings, the study only shows how genetics and stress factors are linked and some of the genes influencing sleep and wake patterns, not how genes or stress factors cause sleep paralysis.
I always thought that sleep paralysis was caused by stressful factors, not how stressful factors can cause one to develop it. Also, I never thought to link the cause of sleep paralysis to genes and how it can be heritable. Through this study, may be people can find out the cause of sleep paralysis

Original Link: http://www.livescience.com/49818-sleep-paralysis-genetic-basis.html
Related Link: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-paralysis

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