Photo by bruce mars from Pexels
So Madonna isn’t lying?!
Years ago, I listened to an interview with Madonna and something she said always stuck with me. She mentioned that she only needs four hours of sleep every night. At the time, I thought, “Is she for real?’
Most people need at least 8 hours in order to type, think and not doze off after lunch. But then, that’s your average normal human being. Celebrities operate a little differently. First, they don’t get wrinkles or gain weight and look forever young. Although, still, I was bewildered to think someone could go to bed at midnight and wake up at 4:00 am to exercise, create music and function. And not turn into a zombie dragging their feet throughout the day, as I would be with such a little amount of shut-eye. But now, according to new research, Madonna probably has the gene. The “very little sleep is needed” gene.
According to science, researchers have discovered a gene mutation that allows some people to feel completely rested with a little amount of sleep. It’s the short sleep gene. Some people can sleep for a few hours and wake up completely rested and energetic. While other people will need at least 8 hours to feel rested. People without the short-sleeper gene will suffer the effects of sleep deprivation. Wrinkles, problems remembering things, and of course and overall feeling of tiredness. The short sleeper people won’t feel these negative effects. It sounds almost like a superpower. A few hours of sleep then able to bounce back up and write a paper or run a marathon. According to this article, Thomas Edison was famously known to be a short sleeper sleeping only 3 maybe 4 hours a night. The individuals with this gene can handle can also adapt to a sporadic sleep schedule. They do not need to go to bed at the same time every night.
So, what I am wondering if it is even possible for the “short-sleeper gene” people to get sleep-deprived. Since their bodies only need a long nap to be recharged do they suffer from insomnia at all? Chronic sleep deprivation, in normal people (without the gene), can lead to certain diseases like cancer, heart disease, a weak immune system, and even dementia. Without this superhuman gene, you are at risk for certain health problems.
Either way, short-sleeper gene people exist and are out there awake, probably bored waiting for you to get up. And if you have a child or new baby who just can’t seem to fall asleep and let you rest, maybe they possess this gene. Science has determined that the occurrence of this gene is extremely rare. But you never know, you could have a ‘mutant’ child. And possibly this busy body kid really does not need any sleep.