Researchers from the United Kingdom have discovered that sleep deprivation results in the alteration of genes in those who get less than six hours of sleep a night, the BBC reported.
The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences journal in an article called “Effects of insufficient sleep of the human and expression amplitude of the human blood transcriptome.”
“Insufficient sleep and circadian rhythm disruption are associated with negative health outcomes, including obesity, cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment,” the report said.
Eastern Michigan University senior Travis Taylor said the research “seems reasonable and reliable based on my own experience with sleep deprivation and its effect on my own body.”
Researchers at the University of Surrey in England conducted an experiment where blood samples were compared from participants who had received up to 10 hours and those who had received less than
six.
The results showed more than 700 genes were affected by the change in sleep.
“Well personally I try and always sleep for around 6-8 hours, which is recommended,” EMU art education major Ryan Swidan said. “I notice a lot of my friends don’t sleep as much, and I do notice they have a few physical strains because of that—or so it seems.”
Akhilesh Reddy, an award-winning professor at Cambridge University, said the research could help with developing a drug to combat sleep deprivation.
“We don’t know what the switch is that causes all these changes, but theoretically if you could switch it on or off, you might be able to get away without sleep,” he told the BBC.
EMU student Chelsea Allen said, “It’s super cool that they’re working on a drug to prevent sleep deprivation. I never get enough sleep during the school week, and I can feel a difference on the days I actually find time to sleep.”
