Mechanisms Associated With Vulnerability to Cognitive Impairment Due to Sleep Loss

Derk-Jan Dijk, PhD

The effects of sleep loss on cognitive and behavioral function vary markedly among individuals. Reasons for these differences are in part due to the clock genes, which studies have shown to regulate sleep. Genetic polymorphisms in the Period 3 (PER3) clock gene affects a variety of sleep parameters such as sleep latency and slow wave sleep, as well as cognitive and behavioral function all of which are adversely affected by sleep loss. Functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in individuals with PER3 polymorphisms is predictive of responses to cognitive tasks. Differences in vulnerability to the effects of sleep loss observed in individuals with PER3 polymorphisms appears to be due, at least in part, to differential activation of the brain regions. Understanding how genetic differences confer vulnerability to the effects of sleep loss may help identify individuals, such as night-shift workers, who find sleep loss an occupational risk factor. These studies may also lead to the development of approaches to counteract the effects of sleep loss.

References

Vandewalle G, Archer SN, Wuillaume C, Balteau E, Degueldre C, Luxen A, Maquet P, Dijk DJ. Functional magnetic resonance imaging-assessed brain responses during an executive task depend on interaction of sleep homeostasis, circadian phase, and PER3 genotype. J Neurosci. 2009 Jun 24;29(25):7948-7956.

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