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Sleep is not just a serene way to spend the morning weekend, it is an essential biological function associated with good health, when it is properly obtained, or with a disease, when it is deficient. Surprisingly, although we spend about a third of our lives sleeping, our understanding of how this biological process is regulated is poorly understood. Yet, in this technological era of portable electronic devices, new information can be gathered about this enigmatic process, which is exactly what an international team of investigators led by scientists at the University of Exeter decided to expose.
Surprisingly, researchers have found 47 links between our genetic code and the quality, quantity and timing of our sleep. In addition, they include ten new genetic links with the duration of sleep and 26 with the quality of sleep. The results of this study were published today in Nature Communications through an article entitled "Genetic studies on accelerometer-based sleep measurements provide new insights into sleep behavior in humans".
"We know that getting enough sleep improves our health and well-being, but we still know relatively little about the mechanisms of our bodies that influence our sleep," says study principal investigator Andrew Wood, PhD, professor at the University of Exeter. "Changes in the quality, quantity and timing of sleep are strongly associated with several human diseases such as diabetes and obesity, as well as psychiatric disorders.
This new genome-wide association study (GWAS) was funded by the Medical Research Council and examined data from 85,670 UK Biobank participants and 5,819 people from three other studies, carrying accelerometers – worn appliances. wrist (similar to a Fitbit) – levels of activity continuously. They carried the accelerometers continuously for seven days, providing more detailed sleep data than previous studies, which relied on individuals who accurately reported their own sleep patterns.
Among the genomic regions discovered is a gene called PDE11A. The research team discovered that an unusual variant of this gene affects not only the duration of your sleep, but also the quality of your sleep. The gene has already been identified as a potential drug target for the treatment of people with neuropsychiatric disorders associated with mood stability and social behavior.
In addition, the results of the study showed that, in people with the same hip circumference, a higher waistline resulted in less sleep time, although the effect was very low: about 4 seconds less sleep for an increase of one centimeter in size in a person with an average hip circumference. about 100 cm.
Finally, researchers have found that, collectively, genetic regions related to sleep quality are also linked to the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. Serotonin is known to play a key role in sleep cycles and is theorized to help promote deeper and more restful sleep.
"This study identifies genetic variants affecting sleep patterns and will provide new insights into the molecular role of sleep in humans," concludes lead researcher Samuel Jones, PhD, of the study. Faculty of Medicine of Exeter University. "This is part of an emerging work that could one day enlighten the development of new treatments to improve our sleep and our overall health."
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