Have you ever wondered why some people fall asleep as soon as they touch the bed while others spend hours counting sheep? We often blame stress, screens or caffeine, but the answer could be much more deeply rooted in you.
Just as we inherit eye colour or height, a frequent question arises: are sleep patterns genetic? Science has shown that there is a high probability. Your genetic code plays a fundamental role not only in how much you sleep, but in how you do it.
The internal clock
You surely know someone who wakes up with energy at 6:00 in the morning without an alarm, while you need three coffees to function. It is not just a matter of habit; it is biology.
When we ask ourselves if sleep habits are genetic, we must look at our circadian rhythm. There are variants in specific genes (such as the CLOCK or PER gene) that dictate your chronotype. If you come from a family of early risers, it is very likely that you are too. You can discover if your DNA predisposes you to be a morning person and your morning circadian rhythm.
Snoring and apnoea
One of the most frequent doubts in consultation is: is sleep apnoea genetic?
Although weight and lifestyle have an influence, the anatomy of your face, the structure of your throat and the neuromuscular control of the airways are inherited traits. Therefore, yes, there are clear genetic factors of sleep apnoea. If your parents snored loudly, it is possible that you also have that predisposition.
So, can sleep apnoea be genetic? There is a high probability. In fact, loud snoring is usually the prelude. Analysing your genetic vulnerability and the probability of snoring can give you valuable clues to prevent major problems.
Insomnia and quality of rest
To the questions, are sleep problems genetic? or can sleep problems be genetic?, the answer is affirmative. Insomnia is not always the product of the day’s worries; sometimes it is an inherited neurobiological hyperarousal. There are people genetically vulnerable to having lighter and more fragmented sleep.
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Sleep depth: Some genes influence the ability to reach restorative phases. You can check your vulnerability to deep sleep.
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Difficulty sleeping: If “not getting a wink of sleep” is common in your family, you could have a high genetic risk of insomnia.
Movement disorders and narcolepsy
Beyond common insomnia, there are more complex conditions where genetic tests for sleep movement are revealing.
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS): Do you feel an uncontrollable tingling in your legs when you lie down? This disorder has a very high hereditary burden. Knowing your risk of suffering from restless legs syndrome can be the first step to seeking treatment.
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Narcolepsy: It is a rare disorder but with a strong autoimmune and genetic component. If you are concerned about excessive daytime sleepiness, analyse the genetic susceptibility to narcolepsy.
The “mutants” of short sleep
Do you know those people who sleep 4 hours and are fresh as a daisy? A genetic mutation for sleeping less has been discovered (such as in the DEC2 gene). These people are “natural short sleepers”. It is not that they train to sleep little, it is that their biology is more efficient at clearing brain fatigue. If you wonder if a genetic mutation makes you sleep less, science confirms that it is possible, although it is a very uncommon trait.
Nowadays, genetic tests for sleep are accessible and simple. With the tellmeGen DNA test, you will not only discover your origins, but you will get a detailed report on how your genetics influence your nights.