woman sleeping on couch
Julie Hambleton
Julie Hambleton
December 3, 2023 ·  3 min read

New Study Reveals Some People ‘Need More Sleep’ And Are ‘Born To Nap’

Do you struggle to make it through a day without a quick bit of afternoon shut-eye? Well, if napping is your favorite pastime, there might actually now be science to back up why. Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have discovered that, genetically, some people need more sleep than others. (1)

Science Says Some People Need More Sleep

According to a new study led by investigators at MGH, some people need more sleep than others, and their genes actually regulate that need. (1)

In a collaboration between researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain, they completed the largest study ever done on genetics and sleep. They determined that genes determine who needs a nap to get through the day and who doesn’t. (1)

The controversy of napping pushed the researchers to look into the biology of napping. Some people believe that napping can boost productivity. Others say the only reason people need naps is that they aren’t getting proper sleep at night. To determine why some people are so nap-pro (or nap needy) versus why others seem to be averse to them, the team scoured the databases for the answer. (2)

Genes and Sleeping

Prior to this study, some of the researchers were already looking into the effects of genes on sleep patterns. They identified genes associated with (1):

  • Sleep duration
  • Insomnia
  • Whether you are an “early riser” or a “night owl.”

After looking through that information, the researchers did a genome-wide association study (GWAS). They scanned complete sets of DNA of 452,633 people. Normally, scientists use a GWAS to identify genes associated with a specific disease. In this case, they were looking at ones associated with napping. (1)

Read: 1 Million Children Meditated Together to Raise Awareness on One Key Topic

The Study

Researchers identified 123 regions in human DNA that are linked to taking daily naps. They asked participants about their daytime napping habits. (1) Answer options were (1):

  • Never/rarely
  • Sometimes
  • Usually

The researchers then replicated the study by analyzing the genomes of 541,333 collected by 23AndMe. (1) As they studied the data, they discovered three potential things that promote napping (1):

  • Early morning awakening: Early risers may use naps to catch-up on lost sleep.
  • Disrupted Sleep: Those who sleep poorly may use a nap to make up for it.
  • Sleep propensity: Some people need more sleep than others.

Essentially, their research shows that the need for a nap isn’t just driven by environmental factors or choice but also by biology. (1)

“Future work may help to develop personalized recommendations for siesta,” says Dr. Marta Garaulet. (2)

They also found that the genes associated with napping are also linked to orexin, a neuropeptide involved in wakefulness. (1)

“This pathway is known to be involved in rare sleep disorders like narcolepsy, but our findings show that smaller perturbations in the pathway can explain why some people nap more than others,” says co-lead author Iyas Daghlas. (2)

Some of the genes identified are also linked to other health concerns such as high blood pressure and a large waist circumference. (1)

Though the team plans to do more research, perhaps a prescription of one nap per day could be in your future.

So the next time someone asks why you need to nap, you can just tell them you were born that way.

Keep Reading: Get paid $3,000 to sleep: Real-life Sleeping Beauty needed for study

  1. Genetic determinants of daytime napping and effects on cardiometabolic health.” Nature. Hassan S. Dashti, et al. February 10, 2021.
  2. The science of siestas: New research reveals the genetic basis for daytime napping.” Science Daily. February 10, 2021.