Scientists have identified the "sleepless elite" - a small group of people who are able to fully relax for 4-5 hours a day
Experts from the University of California have identified a special genetic mutation that allows you to get enough sleep in a matter of hours. A small change in a gene called hDEC2 leads to the fact that its carrier starts to stay up late, get up early and feel great at the same time. However, this mutation does not appear more often than 1-3 out of 100 people.
Scientists were able to identify this when studying a number of American families, some of which belonged to the so-called "sleepless elite." After a lengthy analytical study, the mutation was successfully reproduced experimentally in laboratory conditions.
In addition to the ability to stay awake, carriers of the mutant gene quite often have a specific phenotype. They tend to be leaner, less sensitive to pain, and more optimistic.
The research group is currently planning to study in more detail the structure of the DNA of the "sleepless elite". Experts believe that this will help in the development of drugs that can change the ratio of daily sleep and wakefulness.
“Our long-term goal is to one day learn enough to be able to manipulate sleep duration without compromising health,” explained the head of the work, Dr. Ying-Hui Fu.
According to scientists, among the outstanding historical figures there were many who had the ability to get enough sleep in a few hours. These included, for example, Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, Margaret Thatcher, and Winston Churchill.
Scientists continue to discover new facts about sleep and its impact on human life. In particular, the researchers found that it is most beneficial to sleep from 5 to 6.5 hours a day, and children need at least 10 hours for normal body functioning. Adequate sleep can reduce their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and improve their behavior. In addition, it is known that the desire to lie down to sleep during the day is evidence of pathology.
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Experts have proven that sleep helps the brain get rid of all unnecessary proteins, "cleaning" unnecessary proteins from neural connections, and reduces the risk of obesity in children and girls. In addition, daytime sleep protects against the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, and sleep deprivation can provoke the development of dementia. Sleep has been shown to play a role in the learning process for adults and infants, improve memory and help better connect facts.
The researchers managed to study in detail the nature of nightmares and find out the main reasons for their occurrence, as well as prove that they can be a harbinger of the development of Parkinson's disease. Also, experts have come to the conclusion that women have much more terrible nightmares, while women's dreams are deeper and leave a stronger impression after waking up.
In this case, exposure to electric light before bedtime can lead to its disruption and the development of other abnormalities, and being awake at night can cause obesity.
