Whenever we find ourselves overwhelmed by deadlines, we all share a common wish: to be able to sleep just one hour and still have enough energy to tackle all our tasks.
In reality, some people possess this ability; they sleep very little yet are always full of vitality and work with great enthusiasm. Why is that? To find an answer to why some individuals have this “precious” ability, researchers at the University of California (San Francisco, USA) have identified a gene mutation that may be the most convincing explanation for the question posed at the beginning of this article.
The gene mutation may be the most convincing answer to why some people sleep less but remain alert.
It is known that this mutation is very rare, occurring in only 1 in every 4 million people. By creating similar genetic alterations in mice, scientists have produced mice that sleep less yet can still remember well without any issues, according to research results published in mid-October in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Although the development of a similar drug for humans may not be imminent or might not even become a reality, if it were feasible, we could dream of a future where taking a single pill would allow us to sleep less while still working energetically and normally. However, some experts express concern that even if such a drug could be successfully developed, side effects would almost be unavoidable.
Moreover, this type of medication could potentially lead to other social consequences, such as many people abusing it to work more. Overall, the findings from this new research are still considered inconclusive, and clearly, more studies are needed to delve deeper into this topic.
As of now, the question “Why do we sleep?” remains one of life’s greatest mysteries and has been the subject of research for many scientists over the centuries. Early last year, scientists indicated that they seem to be closer than ever to finding the most accurate answer to this question. According to research, sleep plays a crucial role in facilitating the brain’s internal “clean-up” processes, thereby preventing it from becoming overloaded with new memories.
