A new study has found insomnia may be in your genes. Researchers recently discovered 57 genes associated with symptoms of the condition.
Researchers made the discovery after analysing data from close to 4.5 lakh people. 29 percent of the participants reported they frequently experienced symptoms of the condition. Through self-reported insomnia data, the team was able to identify the genes associated with the sleep disorder.Factors that normally contribute to the condition like lifestyle, caffeine consumption and depression were ruled out.
According to researchers, these genes are ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, which is a protein marked for destruction. They are expressed in skeletal muscles, the adrenal gland and many regions of the brain.
"Our findings confirm a role for genetics in insomnia symptoms and expand upon the four previously found gene loci for this condition," lead author Jacqueline M. Lane from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), told a news portal. Adding, "All of these identified regions help us understand why some people get insomnia, which pathways and systems are affected, and point to possible new therapeutic targets."
Millions of people around the of the world are affected by the sleep disorder. Researchers noted that it can significantly increase the risk of coronary artery disease and depression.
"Insomnia has a really significant impact on millions of people worldwide. We've long known there's a link between insomnia and chronic disease. Now our findings suggest that depression and heart disease are actually a result of persistent insomnia," Samuel Jones from the University of Exeter in the UK, told a news portal.
The study's findings were originally published in journal Nature Genetics.
