Your genetic makeup could be the cause of your restless nights, study says

A new study suggests that a poor night’s sleep could be a result of your genetic code.

A collaborative study led by the University of Exeter, located in the UK, has found 47 links between human genetic codes and the quality, quantity and timing of how one sleeps.

University of Exeter included over 90,000 participants in the study, who were required to wear accelerometers for seven days, devices which are worn on the wrist and resemble a Fitbit.

The accelerometers continually measure the participants’ activity levels and are able to relay more details data than previous studies, which asked participants to report on their own sleeping habits, the study says.

"This study identifies genetic variants influencing sleep traits, and will provide new insights into the molecular role of sleep in humans,” said Dr. Samuel Jones of University of Exeter Medical school and lead author of the study.

“It is part of an emerging body of work which could one day inform the development of new treatments to improve our sleep and our overall health."

Researchers discovered that a gene called PDE11A affected length and quality of sleep and also found that “among people with the same hip circumference, a higher waist circumference resulted in less time sleeping.” Approximately four second less sleep per one centimetre increase in circumference.

Genetic codes linked to serotonin – which plays a key role in sleep cycles – also were found to affect sleep.