Study identifies gene mutation associated with short sleep duration

A study in the August issue of the journal SLEEP reports the identification of a gene mutation that may allow the carrier to function normally on less than six hours of sleep per night. The genetic variant also appears to provide greater resistance to the effects of sleep deprivation. According to the authors, this is only the second study to link a mutation of the BHLHE41 gene – also known as DEC2 – to short sleep duration.