Friday, April 13, 2018

Sleep and Genetics


The reason why you can't sleep could be linked to your genetics. There is new research that shows a specific mutation that changes the circadian rhythm of genes that carry it. A person's circadian rhythm is a 24 hour cycle of the physiological processes, which include sleep and wake cycles. However, many people suffer from disrupted sleep patterns, one being delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD), which is the inability to get to sleep early. DSPD delays hormones, especially in melatonin levels. Also, the hormones necessary to transition into the sleep phase of the cycle is inhibited due to an overactivity of the protein that produces it, that is caused by the mutation in a gene called CRY1.
It was found that most individuals who had the gene mutation had delayed sleep patterns.

More research like this can allow for a greater understanding of disrupted sleep patterns, which can lead to the development of new drugs to combat it.

Article: https://newatlas.com/gene-explains-night-owl-sleep/48902/
Original Study: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180309095520.htm

2 comments:

  1. It is very cool to understand that sleep deprivation could be cause by the mutation gene, CRY1. Many individuals rely on drugs or sources that can help them sleep. Maybe scientists or researchers can provide other alternatives to help individuals sleep and reset their circadian rhythm.

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  2. I have always had a problem falling asleep late at night. Before reading this, I had believed that the source of my restlessness was all in my head. With the discovery that it is in fact genetic, I wonder that other abnormalities are a result of genetics, such as sleep walking,

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