Story perspectives

Genetic Mutations Could Revolutionize Sleep Needs, Experts Warn

2/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Amita Sehgal of the University of Pennsylvania explains that the biological clock and homeostatic sleep drive can misalign.
Genetic studies, initiated in the 1990s by Chris Jones, a researcher, identified mutations linked to short sleep, including DEC2.
Fu and her team identified six mutations across five genes affecting sleep duration.
Some mutations show promise for drugs to reduce sleep needs, but long-term side effects, like Alzheimer's disease, warrant caution.

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Story summary

Amita Sehgal of the University of Pennsylvania explains that the biological clock and homeostatic sleep drive can misalign.
Genetic studies, initiated in the 1990s by Chris Jones, a researcher, identified mutations linked to short sleep, including DEC2.
Fu and her team identified six mutations across five genes affecting sleep duration.
Some mutations show promise for drugs to reduce sleep needs, but long-term side effects, like Alzheimer's disease, warrant caution.