A rare genetic mutation in the SIK3 gene may be the key to understanding why some people need less sleep than others, according to new research led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The study focused on individuals who naturally sleep fewer hours without suffering any apparent health consequences, identifying a woman in her 70s who averages just 6.3 hours of sleep per night. Despite this short sleep duration, she remains healthy and cognitively sharp—traits consistent with the “natural short sleeper” (NSS) profile.
This discovery marks the fifth time scientists have found a genetic mutation associated with reduced sleep needs. The findings support the growing body of evidence suggesting that sleep duration is, at least in part, genetically determined. “Studying human sleep genes not only expands our knowledge regarding the sleep regulatory network, but also may bring the basic research from mouse models to clinical relevance,” the research team noted in their published paper.
Experimental Findings and Brain Activity
To further investigate the impact of the SIK3 mutation, scientists engineered mice to carry the same gene alteration. While mice typically sleep around 12 hours daily, those with the mutation slept about 30 minutes less. Though the reduction may seem minor, it reflects the mutation’s subtle but measurable influence on sleep regulation.
Brain scans of the genetically modified mice revealed heightened protein activity at synapses—the junctions where neurons communicate. This aligns with existing knowledge that the SIK3 gene produces a kinase protein, which influences other proteins by altering their function. The research suggests that this kinase activity plays a role in determining how much sleep the body needs.
“These findings advance our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of sleep, highlight the broader implications of kinase activity in sleep regulation across species, and provide further support for potential therapeutic strategies to enhance sleep efficiency,” the scientists explained.
Implications for Sleep Science and Medicine
The implications of this research stretch beyond just curiosity about sleep habits. Understanding how certain genetic mutation affect sleep could eventually lead to new treatments for sleep disorders. While such therapies remain a long-term goal, discoveries like the SIK3 mutation bring science one step closer to that future.
Moreover, identifying natural short sleepers helps researchers better grasp the biological functions of sleep, such as memory consolidation, immune system regulation, and cognitive maintenance. According to Ying-Hui Fu, a neuroscientist and geneticist at the University of California, San Francisco, individuals with these rare genetic mutation perform these vital tasks more efficiently than the average person. “These [NSS] people, all these functions our bodies are doing while we are sleeping, they can just perform at a higher level than we can,” Fu said.
As sleep continues to be a topic of scientific fascination and medical importance, genetic studies like this one provide crucial insights into why some people thrive on less rest—and how that knowledge might benefit everyone.
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