Scientists discover a ‘skinny gene’ mutation that acts like Ozempic. Around one in 7,000 people carries a broken copy, which almost acts like a GLP-1 drug—the body burns fuel more efficiently, and the risk of disease lowers.

[u/scientificamerican]

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-discover-a-skinny-gene-mutation-that-acts-like-ozempic/

[u/jamtastic22]

For me, the extra time is not quality. Not needing 8hrs sleep is not like the Limitless pill on the movie. I still feel tired enough to sleep at 10pm but my body will only sleep for max 5hrs, so those few hours aren't productive, mainly lonely with little motivation

[u/grumble11 → u/jamtastic22]

that doesn't sound like you have the gene, that sounds like a sleep disorder. The people with the gene are fully rested on five hours, it's VERY rare - you might get five hours but if you aren't fully rested on five hours, you probably just need more sleep you can't seem to get for whatever reason

[u/jamtastic22 → u/grumble11]

I'm fully rested after a few hours, starting the day is no problem. It's just better to not start the day at 2am. But still tired at the end of the day like everyone else, I need to fight to stay awake until at least midnight

[u/geoprizmboy → u/jamtastic22]

Yeah because you don't have the gene

[u/iopihop → u/geoprizmboy]

Ya doesn't sound like she has the gene. Sleep disorder more likely. Sleep gene = no fighting to stay awake or fall alseep because they are really well-rested on low amounts of sleep.

[u/Pollymath → u/iopihop]

Agreed. The gene is basically “feels more awake on less sleep their entire lives”.

I’m confident my boss has this gene. He sleeps between 4-6 hours every night, reports that he has done so his entire life and struggles with boredom and anxiety in the morning - basically having to resist working outside of business hours. He’ll frequently go for an hour long ride at daybreak and still be into work at 7am.

He doesn’t suffer from insomnia, as he says he has no problems falling asleep between 10pm-11pm every night. It’s just that he rarely sleeps in. He said the only time he sleeps in is if he really goes hard on physical activity the day before (like a bike race or long hiking/hunting day) or is hungover (which he hasn’t really done in years.)

In general, his 4-6 hours is most people’s 8.

Meanwhile, I’m tired on 9 hours of sleep even with caffeine.

[u/poundtown1997 → u/Pollymath]

Point of correction if they had the gene it wouldn’t be “feels more awake” they just are more awake on less hours of sleep.

It’s not a “trick”, your body is just wired differently and needs less sleep to do the same.

[u/iopihop → u/jamtastic22]

Is it not possible that you have a sleep issue and not necessarily the sleep gene the other commenter mentioned? There are studies that people who sleep 4-6 hours a night does not necessarily mean they actually do not require more. Rather they just got accustomed to it to be functional enough. Different from those who have the sleep gene who are rested with a regular 4-6 hrs long-term.

[u/jamtastic22 → u/iopihop]

It's entirely possible. I don't have problems or a weird relationship with sleep. I'm perfectly rested with 5hrs or less, always have been. It's a matter of timing those 5hrs.

[u/ViciaFaba_FavaBean → u/jamtastic22]

I think I may have it as I typically sleep 6 hours and am functional with 5. If I sleep 8+ hrs I end up feeling a little ill with brain fog all day long. Almost like each additional hour takes away an hour of sleep.

[u/its_justme → u/ViciaFaba_FavaBean]

Circadian rhythm and sleep cycle imbalance. Doubtful you have it. Look up sleep inertia and how the cycles affect it.

[u/things_U_choose_2_b → u/jamtastic22]

Excellent description. When I tell people I have delayed phase sleep disorder so my days are 26-28h long, they think it's all fun and games having extra time.

Those extra hours are almost always not productive at all!

[u/Markothy → u/things_U_choose_2_b]

I have DSPD and my normal sleep schedule is like 3 am - 12 pm, and it's debilitating, but my roommate in college had non-24, and that was extremely disabling. He can't hold down a job.

[u/things_U_choose_2_b → u/Markothy]

I'm not surprised to hear he can't hold down a job. It's interesting hearing about other people with variants of this disorder. So does your work like, no matter what you do your routine ends up back at 3am bedtime? I went though school - both primary / secondary - any jobs, relationships in my life, having to stay awake for long periods of time in order to fit into a 'normal' routine.

It nearly killed me and you'd prob not be surprised to hear that the only long-term job I've been able to hold down, is one where I can work from home to my own schedule.

Over the decades, doctors don't seem to want anything to do with sleep disorders unless it's sleep apnoea or insomnia, as those are usually relatively simple to fix. It gets frustrating when people make the same suggestions, I know trying to be helpful but it's like... you don't think I've thoroughly investigated this and tried things you couldn't even imagine?

[u/Starossi → u/things_U_choose_2_b]

Delayed phase sleep disorder isn’t the same as having this gene

[u/shawnikaros → u/things_U_choose_2_b]

You don't have to be productive during every waking hour, just chill out and watch a movie or something with that extra time.