One night of insufficient sleep may influence our genes, according to new research findings.
In a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from Uppsala University and Karolinska Institute in Sweden, it has been revealed that a single night of sleep loss can lead to epigenetic changes in humans.
The study, which was conducted on 15 healthy young men, all non-smokers with no history of sleep disorders, aimed to understand the impact of sleep deprivation on the body. Each participant stayed two nights per session in the lab, with one night of full, restful sleep (over 8 hours) and one night of either sleep or being kept awake all night.
During the sleep-deprived night, the researchers observed epigenetic changes in fat tissue that could shift the body's balance toward insulin resistance—a precursor to diabetes. Fat tissue, as a dynamic endocrine organ, releases hormones, stores energy, and helps regulate blood sugar.
These changes suggest that a single night without sleep can reprogram the body's core operating system. The researchers measured changes in gene expression and epigenetic methylation before and after the all-nighter.
The long-term metabolic consequences of these epigenetic modifications due to sleep deprivation include increased risk of inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. Disrupted sleep can also impact the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism, which in turn influences systemic metabolism.
The changes observed may act as a form of "metabolic memory," meaning the damage could linger even after returning to a regular sleep schedule. This study adds to the growing body of evidence linking sleep deprivation with obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
Obesity rates have more than tripled worldwide since 1975, and according to the CDC, 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. doesn't get enough sleep on a regular basis. Type 2 diabetes affects over 500 million people globally.
Between digital devices, work stress, social media, and irregular schedules, modern life is perfectly engineered to disrupt natural sleep patterns. The researchers behind the study admit they don't yet know how long these gene changes last or whether they can be reversed. However, if sleep loss can literally reprogram your genes, it's not hard to imagine how chronic deprivation fuels these epidemics.
The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, provides a crucial step forward in understanding the complex interplay between sleep, metabolism, and health. As the world grapples with escalating rates of obesity and diabetes, this research underscores the importance of prioritising good sleep hygiene for overall well-being.
- This groundbreaking study has also highlighted a potential connection between sleep deprivation and mental health, as the researchers noted that the epigenetic changes observed could potentially affect the regulatory systems of the brain, which may lead to mental health issues.
- To maintain overall health-and-wellness, it is essential to prioritize good sleep hygiene, considering the study's findings that even a single night of sleep loss can induce epigenetic changes, potentially influencing inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and possibly mental health issues in the long term.
