Morning Person or Late Riser?

The latest genetic breakthrough in the study of morning people versus night people comes from researchers at the University of Surrey, England, where a study led by Dr. Simon Archer found a link between a gene called Period 3 and people's lark or owl preference. The research was carried out at the Science Museum in London, England where visitors were asked to complete the Horne-Ostberg questionnaire. In use since 1967, this survey is comprised of 19 questions designed to determine the time of day people prefer doing certain tasks. The researchers took genetic samples from the participants who scored the most extreme on the morning/night spectrum and analysed their DNA. Published in Sleep, the journal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, the study's findings show that most of the extreme morning people have a longer version of the gene while night people have a shorter type.

The genetic explanation for an extreme morning or night preference may come as a welcome relief to those who have spent years fighting their own nature. In particular, night owls tend to be the losers in our 9 to 5 society: people who are inclined to stay up late but have to function on a normal working schedule often end up sleep deprived due to insomnia.

Carolyn Schur, a sleep advocate and author of the book Birds of a Different Feather, which explores the relationships between early birds and night owls, doesn't believe in labelling people with an illness simply because their natural habits are different from what society mandates. For example, patients described as having Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome or DSPS, are typically unable to fall asleep before 2 am and have extreme difficulty waking early. (Extreme morningness is referred to as advanced sleep phase syndrome, or ASPS). Instead of making people with either DSPS or ASPS feel guilty and shunning their lifestyle, Schur argues for increased tolerance and understanding of sleep variations, and greater flexibility with work schedules.

An ideal future would allow humans to test their genetic make-up to determine the healthiest work schedule for them. At the moment, there are entire professions that tend to be larks, like bankers and surgeons, whereas owls gravitate to freelance or shift work or industries that operate later in the day like entertainment and hospitality. Perhaps predictably, Schur also notes that there is a much higher divorce and separation rate between couples who have different morning/evening preferences.

So should people try to change what is genetically inherent? Schur doesn't recommend it. Although there are treatments to alter your circadian rhythms, like light therapy, melatonin and large doses of vitamin B12, she likens such a course to continually dying your hair. "If you're a blond who wants to be darker, you can do it, but you're committing yourself to a lifetime of maintenance and upkeep," she says.

For more information:

BBC - Why some of us are early risers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2996364.stm

Truestar Health - Early bird or night owl?
http://www.truestarhealth.com/members/cm_archives13ML3P1A22.html