The Link Between Genetics and Sleep Patterns
From the basics of counting sheep to understanding the science behind restful nights, sleep has been a point of study for millennia. More recently, technological advances and cutting-edge medical research have illuminated the many factors that determine a person’s sleeping pattern. Genetics plays a significant role in the length, timing, and quality of sleep that a person experiences.
Genes are believed to be a major factor in certain sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Genes can also affect sleep through their influence on our circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm, in turn, is responsible for our natural “body clock” which allows us to maintain an appropriate sleep/wake cycle.
Clearly, genetics have an influence on how we sleep, but what exactly can we learn from studying these factors? Read on to learn more about the link between genetics and sleep patterns.
Genetic Variation in Sleep: Why We’re Different
There are many genetic variations between individuals that can affect their sleep quality and quantity. Some have varying lengths of sleep time while others have trouble falling asleep or waking up in the morning. For some, overall sleep habits are largely genetic, while others develop more “habit-based” sleep patterns that do not always follow a biological clock.
The most significant thing to know is that not everyone is predisposed to the same kind of sleep. Some are “morning people” and need to be up early while others enjoy late nights and struggle to wake up in the morning. Familial sleep patterns can often be traced back to the parents, and it is often the case that familial sleep habits are genetic in nature.
Differences in Circadian Rhythms
Circadian rhythms are the patterns of when a person is awake and when a person is asleep. For some people, these rhythms are highly regular and well-timed, while others experience insomnia and fragmented sleep patterns due to disordered circadian rhythms. Genetics are often responsible for differences in circadian rhythms, as there are certain gene variants that can regulate how people sleep and wake up.
Not only do genetic-based circadian rhythms regulate when people get sleepy during the day but they also regulate other bodily processes like hormone secretion, stress levels, and metabolic processes. This means that genetic variations could be responsible for more than just our sleep/wake cycles—they could be responsible for our entire internal clock.
Genetic variations are also thought to be the cause of circadian rhythm disorders like delayed sleep phase syndrome, which causes people to stay up very late at night and wake up much later than normal in the morning.
Other Genetic Influences on Sleep
Genetics can also have an effect on sleep in other ways. Studies have suggested that some genetic variations influence sleep intensity, which is the level of alertness a person experiences while sleeping. Sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea are thought to have complex genetic influences, which are the result of multiple gene variants.
Other studies suggest that genetics can play a role in influencing sleep quantity, with some individuals naturally needing more than the average eight hours of sleep while others require very little to function properly.
What Does this Mean?
- Genetics can affect the circadian rhythm and influence how our body clock works.
- Genes can influence sleep intensity, the intensity of alertness a person experiences while asleep.
- Genetics play a large role in determining the length and quality of our sleep.
- Genetic variations can lead to sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
Conclusion
The link between genetics and sleep patterns is essential to understanding how our bodies work and why we sleep as we do. Understanding the role that genetics play in our sleep can help us make more informed decisions when it comes to our health and well-being.