Quality and duration of sleep can be rooted in genetics

Many lifestyle and home factors can contribute to a poor night's sleep, but you can also blame another hidden element: genetics. Researchers have identified about four dozen genetic links about sleep quality and duration, according to a new study, and variants of these genes may play a role in poor sleep experiences. The study also highlighted genetic badociations with the timing of sleep.

Adequate and restful sleep remains an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Poor sleep quality has been badociated with immediate and long-term health effects, including decreased concentration, depression, and more serious problems such as heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. Insomnia is perhaps the most serious sleep disorder, but the effects of a short sleep and chronic restlessness add up over time.

The study entitled Genetic studies of accelerometer-based sleep measurements provide new insights into sleep behavior in humans found 47 genetic badociations on eight sleep traits, relating to the timing, quality and duration of sleep. Ten of these genetic links related to sleep duration are new, as are 26 badociated with sleep quality.

The results were derived from data on 85,670 participants in the UK Biobank and 5,819 respondents from three other studies. Participants wore Fitbit tracking tools to monitor their activities continuously for seven days, including their sleep patterns. This gave researchers direct access to sleep data rather than forcing them to rely on self-reported information.

The results include a gene, PDE11A, which includes an unusual variant that affects the duration and quality of sleep. It is interesting to note that the same gene has already been mentioned as a potential drug target for the treatment of certain behavioral disorders and mood stability.

According to the study, genetic links are also involved in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to have a positive effect on the quality of sleep. Among other findings, there is an badociation between restless legs syndrome and lower sleep quality, as well as a slightly reduced sleep duration correlated with a higher waist circumference.