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Period 3 gene polymorphism and sleep adaptation to stressful urban environments
Author(s) -
Anderson Maxwell R.,
Akeeb Ameenat,
Lavela Joseph,
Chen Yuanxiu,
Mellman Thomas A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of sleep research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2869
pISSN - 0962-1105
DOI - 10.1111/jsr.12451
Subject(s) - period (music) , adaptation (eye) , polymorphism (computer science) , sleep (system call) , gene , genetics , psychology , biology , genotype , neuroscience , computer science , art , operating system , aesthetics
Summary This study's objective was to investigate the relationship between a variable‐number tandem‐repeat ( VNTR ) Period 3 gene ( PER 3) polymorphism and sleep adaptation to stressful urban environments. Seventy‐five (49 female) African American participants (ages 18–35 years) living in neighbourhoods with high rates of violent crime were selected for the study based on converging criteria for good or poor sleep. Categorization of sleep quality was based on the Insomnia Severity Index ( ISI ), estimates of typical sleep duration and sleep efficiency. Other assessments included the Fear of Sleep Index ( FOSI ) and City Stress Inventory ( CSI ). Whole blood DNA was analysed for the 4 and 5 VNTR alleles using polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) and restrictive enzyme digestion. Fifty‐seven per cent of those who were homo‐ or heterozygous for the 4‐repeat allele were poor sleepers versus 25% of those homozygous for the 5‐repeat allele; χ 2 = 4.17, P = 0.041. In a logistic regression model with all the variables with significant bivariate relationships to sleep quality group, FOSI was the only significant predictor ( χ 2 = 5.68, P = 0.017). FOSI scores were higher among those with the 4‐repeat allele ( t = 2.66, P = 0.013). The PER 3 4 and 5 VNTR polymorphisms appear to influence sensitivity to the effects of stressful urban environments on sleep. While FOSI was the only variable associated independently with sleep quality category, the candidate vulnerability allele was also associated with greater ‘fear of sleep’.