University of Exeter – April 4, 2019 -- The largest
genetic study of its kind ever to use accelerometer data to examine how we
slumber has uncovered a number of parts of our genetic code that could be
responsible for causing poor sleep quality and duration.
The international collaboration, led by the University of Exeter
The Medical Research Council-funded study looked at data
from 85,670 participants of UK Biobank and 5,819 individuals from three other
studies, who wore accelerometers - wrist-worn devices (similar to a Fitbit)
which record activity levels continuously. They wore the accelerometers
continuously for seven days, giving more detailed sleep data than previous
studies, which have relied on people accurately reporting their own sleep habits.
Among the genomic regions uncovered is a gene called
PDE11A. The research team discovered than an uncommon variant of this gene
affects not only how long you sleep but your quality of sleep too. The gene has
previously been identified as a possible drug target for treatment of people
with neuropsychiatric disorders associated with mood stability and social
behaviours.
The study also found that among people with the same hip
circumference, a higher waist circumference resulted in less time sleeping, although
the effect was very small – around 4 seconds less sleep per 1cm waist increase
in someone with the average hip circumference of around 100cm.
The team involved colleagues from the Center for Sleep
and Circadian Neurobiology in Pennsylvania , Massachusetts General Hospital
as well as the Netherlands , France and Switzerland
Senior author Dr Andrew Wood, of the University of Exeter
Medical School, said: “We know that getting enough sleep improves our health
and wellbeing, yet we still know relatively little about the mechanisms in our
bodies that influence how we sleep. Changes in sleep quality, quantity and
timing are strongly associated with several human diseases such as diabetes and
obesity, and psychiatric disorders.
Lead author Dr Samuel Jones, of the University of Exeter
Medical School, said: “This study identifies genetic variants influencing sleep
traits, and will provide new insights into the molecular role of sleep in
humans. It is part of an emerging body of work which could one day inform the
development of new treatments to improve our sleep and our overall health.”
The group also found further evidence that Restless Leg
Syndrome is linked to poorer sleep from the genetic variants they found to be
associated with sleep measures derived from the accelerometer data.
The full paper is entitled ‘Genetic studies of
accelerometer-based sleep measures yield new insights into human sleep
behaviour’.
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