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Research identifies genetic causes of poor sleep

Research identifies genetic causes of poor sleep

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An international collaboration has found 47 links between our genetic code and the quality, quantity and timing of how we sleep. They include ten new genetic links with sleep duration and 26 with sleep quality.

The study looked at data from 85,670 participants of UK Biobank and 5,819 individuals from three other studies, who wore accelerometers – wrist-worn devices (similar to a Fitbit) which record activity levels continuously. They wore the accelerometers continuously for seven days, giving more detailed sleep data than previous studies, which have relied on people accurately reporting their own sleep habits.

Among the genomic regions uncovered is a gene called PDE11A. The research team discovered an uncommon variant of this gene affects not only how long you sleep but your quality of sleep too. The gene has previously been identified as a possible drug target for treatment of people with neuropsychiatric disorders associated with mood stability and social behaviours.

The study also found that among people with the same hip circumference, a higher waist circumference resulted in less time sleeping, although the effect was very small – around 4 seconds less sleep per 1cm waist increase in someone with the average hip circumference of around 100cm.

The researchers found that collectively, the genetic regions linked to sleep quality are also linked to the production of serotonin – a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Serotonin is known to play a key role in sleep cycles and is theorised to help promote deeper and more restful sleep. The Restless Leg Syndrome was also linked to poorer sleep from the genetic variants.

This research forms part of an emerging body of work which could one day inform the development of new treatments to improve sleep.