Dr. Matt Walker

And the chances are that it may not happen.

Now, again, that's a little bit sort of hyperbolic as a statement, but just try to conceptualize it in that way.

You would never think about taking on, you know, a last quarter cup of coffee just before you put your eye mask on.

And that no problem is in part this, I don't have an issue with falling asleep.

But if we were to, based on the data, map their electrical brain activity...

you would be able to see this reduction in the deep non-REM sleep.

And it can reduce it if you look at the data somewhere between 15% to 20%.

Now, for me to reduce your deep sleep by 15% to 20%, I would probably have to age you by about 20% to 22% years.

or you could just do it every night with a late night coffee should you should you wish so again i've and maybe we'll speak about this in in later episodes i have changed my mind on caffeine i think morning caffeine use or coffee i should say being more specific is fine because i think there are health benefits and we can go into in subsequent episodes why coffee and the coffee bean itself can provide those benefits

So I've become a little bit more bullish on morning caffeine, but evening caffeine, I just think the data is just not supportive.

Even if you are, and there are variations and you were very astute in your question,

Some people, I said, on average, caffeine has a half-life of about five to six hours.

For some people, it's quicker, and for other people, it's slower.

Why is that?

It's based on a gene, and we know the gene.

It's a gene that is part of a set of liver enzymes, and the gene is called the CYP1A2 gene.

And there are variations in that gene, what we call polymorphisms.

And you can do these genetic tests that you can buy these kits and they will probably tell you which you are.

Are you sensitive?

Are you not sensitive?