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Noninvasive, High-throughput Determination of Sleep Duration in Rodents
Published on: April 18, 2018
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Genome-wide association study identifies genetic loci for self-reported habitual sleep duration supported by
Hassan S Dashti1,2, Samuel E Jones3, Andrew R Wood3
1Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, MA, USA.
Nature Communications
|March 9, 2019
Summary
This study identified 78 genetic loci influencing sleep duration in adults. These findings reveal new biological pathways and potential links to conditions like schizophrenia, advancing our understanding of sleep regulation.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Sleep Science
- Neurobiology
Background:
- Sleep duration is crucial for health, but the molecular factors controlling it are largely unknown.
- Understanding the genetic basis of sleep duration can reveal underlying biological mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genetic loci associated with habitual sleep duration in a large adult cohort.
- To explore the biological pathways and trait correlations linked to identified sleep duration loci.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed on 446,118 European adults from the UK Biobank.
- Replication analysis was conducted in the CHARGE study, and associations with objective sleep measures were examined.
Main Results:
- 78 genetic loci associated with self-reported sleep duration were identified, with 43 novel loci.
- These loci were enriched for pathways involved in brain development, neurotransmission, and sensory response.
- Genetic correlations revealed links with anthropometric, cognitive, metabolic, and psychiatric traits, including a bidirectional causal relationship with schizophrenia.
Conclusions:
- This study significantly expands the understanding of the genetic architecture of sleep duration.
- The identified loci implicate diverse biological pathways in regulating sleep.
- Findings suggest potential genetic links between sleep duration and various health conditions, including psychiatric disorders.
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