Is it possible that insomnia is hereditary?

Excessive stress, the extreme pace of life, as well as electronic devices that suppress our recovery, were until recently the main causes of sleep problems. However, a new study provides insight into insomnia and its causes. As it turns out, this problem can result from genetic predispositions and their expression among relatives. Working in a company where people suffer from sleep disorders is also said to have some influence.

An international team of scientists has published an article in Nature Genetics about seven genes of insomnia. Professors from around the world have shed light on the causes of insomnia by proving that sleep difficulties often do not have a psychological background but that the solution lies in our DNA. 

7 sleepless genes

According to Professor Van Someren, a member of the research team, the origins of insomnia are still not supported by thorough and scientifically reliable studies. He believes that patients far too often hear the simple diagnosis "The problem is in your head." The 7 sleepless genes, as mentioned by the professors, are responsible for regulating transcription processes and exocytosis, that is, the expulsion of substances from the cell and simultaneously the fusion of molecules with the environment. Damage to the communication process of neurons causes a variety of problems falling asleep, waking up, and total insomnia. One of the identified genes, e.g., MEIS1, has also been linked to two other sleep disorders: PMLD (Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep) and RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome). The study confirms that variants of the gene contribute to all three sleep disorders. They can also lead to depression, anxiety, and emotional disorders. So far, similar problems have been seen as consequences of chronic sleep problems and not as their cause.

Predisposing factors

The conducted research has also led to the discovery of certain gender correlations in biological sleep mechanisms. Professor Someren confirms that there are striking differences in the frequency of sleep disorders between men and women. In people over 50 – when insomnia is proportionally highest – 33% of women complained of symptoms, while the result for men was just under 20%. Regardless of gender, family-related causes are also considered predisposing factors. It has been shown that 51% of people suffering from insomnia had similar cases in their relatives! This is another argument for the biological basis of sleep problems. We must also consider the impact of the family, e.g., "environmental" factors. As it turns out, merely being with people who suffer from insomnia can lead to the same disorder. Another study showed that siblings living together are susceptible to insomnia. According to scientists, 37% of sleep disorders can be attributed to groups of family members and the convergence of the problem.

Biology versus psyche

Although the latest studies are revolutionizing the world of medicine and improving more accurate diagnoses, we should not forget previous discoveries. Sleep problems are – to a large extent – still a result of our lifestyle. Stress related to life events, as well as health and financial difficulties, are undeniable main causes of sleep disorders. Other reasons include somatic and mental disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, as well as shift work and poor sleep habits. We must also add sensory disorders in adults as well as children. These consist of the impaired ability to correctly perceive, understand, and organize information delivered by us and from the environment through our senses. Problems in this area manifest as motor and coordination weakness, hyper- or hypoactivity, concentration difficulties, insomnia, and nighttime awakenings. 

Despite the difficulty in determining the causes of insomnia biologically or psychologically, one thing is clear – it exists and should not be underestimated.

More about the somatic reasons for sleep: www.therapiedecken.de