Scientists Explain Why Some People Get A Good Night's Sleep In Just Four Hours
- 20.08.2026, 11:01
It's all down to genetics.
Scientists at the Weill Institute for Neuroscience at the University of California have discovered that a rare genetic variant of ADRB1 may increase the activity of neurons responsible for wakefulness. This allows a person to sleep four to six hours each night without showing any obvious signs of sleep deprivation. The study’s findings were published in the journal Neuron.
The researchers studied a rare mutation in the ADRB1 gene, previously identified in a family where several generations had unusually short sleep durations. Carriers of this variant could get by on about six hours of sleep or less their entire lives and still feel normal.
Experiments on genetically modified mice showed that the mutation alters the function of the ADRB1 receptor. It is abundantly present in a region of the brainstem associated with the regulation of wakefulness. In carriers of the mutation, the relevant nerve cells are more easily activated and remain more active during the waking period. As a result, the brain switches more quickly from sleep to wakefulness, reducing the total duration of sleep.
The researchers also examined how widespread this effect is beyond the original family. To do this, they analyzed data from 191,929 individuals with information on their genetics and sleep. The ADRB1 mutation was found in 69 unrelated participants. However, they slept an average of 7.1 hours, compared to 7.2 hours for carriers of the wild-type gene variant—meaning there was virtually no difference between them.
The researchers believe that the same mutation can manifest differently depending on a person’s other genetic characteristics. Therefore, the presence of the ADRB1 variant alone does not necessarily mean that a person actually needs less sleep.
ADRB1 is not the only gene associated with naturally short sleep duration. Previously, scientists discovered variants in DEC2, NPSR1, GRM1, and SIK3. This points to the existence of an entire group of genetic mechanisms capable of influencing sleep duration.
“However, this study does not mean that the average person can safely reduce their sleep to four to six hours. This refers to a rare hereditary trait, not a skill that can be acquired through training. For most people, sleep deprivation remains associated with health risks,” the scientists warned.
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