They discover a genetic mutation associated with the need to sleep less

They usually tell us that we need Sleep from 7 to 8 hours a day To stay healthy and relax properly. However, there are people who assure this with 5 or 6 hours They are already enough. This may be a matter of custom. They are used to it and feel that they no longer need to sleep, although deep down they emphasize their brain every time they do. On the contrary, there are people who really no longer need to sleep. This is what takes a lot of time in research. Some genes that seem to participate in which some people need Sleep less. There are all kinds, and for them, more recently discovered, which can tell us a lot of things about how our brain works at night.

This is about gene Sik3 and its discovery has just been described in a study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in PNAThe mutation of the specified gene, which was associated with fewer sleep, was obsessed 70 -year -sold Healthy WomanThis is on average 6.3 hours. He does not want to sleep anymore or because he does not have time, but because he feels that he does not need it.

This is the human part of the study, although it also tried to cause the same mutation in mice. Everything indicates that, indeed, this reduces Rest time that requires our brainField but how to do it? And what is even more important that this is for knowledge?

Sleep less does not always mean rest less rest

Usually mice sleeps on average 12 hours a dayThe field yes, at least in this sense, who was a mouse. However, when the Sik3 gene mutated on average only 11.5 hours. Of course, this is a modest decrease, but at least it is shown that they sleep less. In addition, scanning your brain activity They showed clear changes during sleep.

This is because Sik3 is a gene that encodes synthesis Blackin Protein. Quinas is a set of protein whose function Send signals to other proteins To regulate your function. They participate in many biological processes and, of course, also in a dream. In this case, it seems that they regulate the actions that are performed during sleep so that they are considered faster.

Because no, sleep is not only to be thicker the next day. During the day Tasks for maintenance So everything works well in our body. The immune system is enhanced, the events of the day are classified, the memory is consolidated, the heart function improves …

Usually, when all these tasks are not performed during sleep. Nevertheless, people with other short mutations of sleep are known, all these tasks stop, mainly because they become faster.

And what is this knowledge?

Knowing these genes is useful, especially for two reasons. On the one hand, because it helps us understand What is happening in our brain While we sleep and, above all, as it regulates. But, in addition, this is useful, because in the future it is knowledge that can be applied to Delivery of drugs Treat sleep disorders. The goals will be known much more precisely than those used today. It may even be possible to develop medicines so that we can all Rest with the same sleep less. This is that if this happens, is still far away, but these conclusions force scientists to take another step.