It is well documented that individuals who do not get enough sleep are likely to experience a range of health problems. However, why this occurs at a molecular level has yet to be understood.
A study carried out by Möller-Levet et al at the University of Surrey investigated the affect of sleep on gene activity. When volunteers who were allowed just under 6 hours sleep per night were compared with those who slept for 8 or more hours each night, a change in activity of 711 of their genes were recorded. Among the genes affected were those linked with circadian rhythms, sleep homoeostasis, oxidative stress, and metabolism. It was concluded that lack of sleep can radically change the body's daily rhythms and may lead to health problems.
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