The study, led by researchers from the University of Helsinki, identified 27 genetic areas significantly associated with sleep medication purchases. Many of these regions contain genes related to sleep and psychiatric traits.
Prolonged sleep problems, often referred to as chronic insomnia or long-term sleep disorders, affect approximately 10% to 15% of the adult population. Chronic sleep problems are associated with numerous physical health issues and can significantly diminish quality of life. However, the biological mechanisms leading to insomnia are not well understood.
To get to grips with the genetic basis of sleep problems, FIMM-EMBL Group Leader
Diagnosing and studying sleep problems based on electronic health registry data can, however, be challenging. To overcome this issue, the research team used information on sleep medication purchases to capture people with insomnia.
By comparing the genome variation of individuals who had purchased sleep medication one or several times with those individuals who had never purchased sleep medication, the researchers were able to highlight genetic areas associated with medication use.
Not surprisingly, some of the identified genomic areas contain genes that are connected to sleep. In addition, the results highlighted several genes that, based on earlier studies, are connected to psychiatric and personality traits.
Further analyses conducted suggest that conditions such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia are risk factors for increased sleep medication purchases.
“Our results illustrate that the relationship between sleep medication purchases and psychiatric traits is causal, so that sleep problems captured by sleep medication purchases increase the risk of psychiatric traits,” says the first author of the study, Dr.
The identification of specific genetic markers associated with sleep problems can lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for individuals suffering from both sleep and psychiatric disorders.
“Our finding underscores the importance of addressing sleep issues as part of the overall management of psychiatric diseases,” says Dr. Hanna Ollila from FIMM, who led the study.
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Hanna M Ollila, FIMM-EMBL Group Leader
Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki
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tel: +358504662234