Dr. Matthew Walker

They took people, healthy people, limited them to six hours of sleep a night for one week. Now, for most people, they're thinking six hours of sleep, that sounds almost luxurious. This was their version of sleep restriction.

They took people, healthy people, limited them to six hours of sleep a night for one week. Now, for most people, they're thinking six hours of sleep, that sounds almost luxurious. This was their version of sleep restriction.

And then what they did was they measured the change in the gene activity profile within that individual. compared to that same individual when they'd been getting a full eight hours of sleep opportunity. So everyone acted as their own control. And there were two stunning results.

And then what they did was they measured the change in the gene activity profile within that individual. compared to that same individual when they'd been getting a full eight hours of sleep opportunity. So everyone acted as their own control. And there were two stunning results.

And then what they did was they measured the change in the gene activity profile within that individual. compared to that same individual when they'd been getting a full eight hours of sleep opportunity. So everyone acted as their own control. And there were two stunning results.

First, what they found was that a sizable 711 genes were distorted in their activity caused by that short sleeping profile.

First, what they found was that a sizable 711 genes were distorted in their activity caused by that short sleeping profile.

First, what they found was that a sizable 711 genes were distorted in their activity caused by that short sleeping profile.

Well, and that was the second result. About half of those genes were what we call upregulated. They were overexpressed. And those were genes that were associated with the promotion of tumors, genes that were associated with inflammation and long-term chronic inflammation, and genes that were associated with cellular stress and, as a consequence, cardiovascular disease. Mm-hmm.

Well, and that was the second result. About half of those genes were what we call upregulated. They were overexpressed. And those were genes that were associated with the promotion of tumors, genes that were associated with inflammation and long-term chronic inflammation, and genes that were associated with cellular stress and, as a consequence, cardiovascular disease. Mm-hmm.

Well, and that was the second result. About half of those genes were what we call upregulated. They were overexpressed. And those were genes that were associated with the promotion of tumors, genes that were associated with inflammation and long-term chronic inflammation, and genes that were associated with cellular stress and, as a consequence, cardiovascular disease. Mm-hmm.

Whereas those genes that were actually down-regulated were genes that were promoting the support of your immune system. So even at a DNA genetic level, you could see your immune deficiency caused by one week of short sleep. So I can take you from a societal level and how we operate together as a human society-

Whereas those genes that were actually down-regulated were genes that were promoting the support of your immune system. So even at a DNA genetic level, you could see your immune deficiency caused by one week of short sleep. So I can take you from a societal level and how we operate together as a human society-

Whereas those genes that were actually down-regulated were genes that were promoting the support of your immune system. So even at a DNA genetic level, you could see your immune deficiency caused by one week of short sleep. So I can take you from a societal level and how we operate together as a human society-

all the way down to say that there is no aspect of your physiology that can retreat at the sign of sleep deprivation and get away unscathed. It will even tamper with the very DNA nucleic alphabet that spells out your daily health narrative. It's incredible. And everything in between. It's incredible. So yeah, I think... But think about it from this perspective too.

all the way down to say that there is no aspect of your physiology that can retreat at the sign of sleep deprivation and get away unscathed. It will even tamper with the very DNA nucleic alphabet that spells out your daily health narrative. It's incredible. And everything in between. It's incredible. So yeah, I think... But think about it from this perspective too.

all the way down to say that there is no aspect of your physiology that can retreat at the sign of sleep deprivation and get away unscathed. It will even tamper with the very DNA nucleic alphabet that spells out your daily health narrative. It's incredible. And everything in between. It's incredible. So yeah, I think... But think about it from this perspective too.

It shouldn't surprise us because sleep is the most ridiculous, dumb thing you could ever have designed from an evolutionary perspective. You're not eating, you're not finding a mate, you're not reproducing, you're not caring for your young. And you're vulnerable to being eaten.

It shouldn't surprise us because sleep is the most ridiculous, dumb thing you could ever have designed from an evolutionary perspective. You're not eating, you're not finding a mate, you're not reproducing, you're not caring for your young. And you're vulnerable to being eaten.

It shouldn't surprise us because sleep is the most ridiculous, dumb thing you could ever have designed from an evolutionary perspective. You're not eating, you're not finding a mate, you're not reproducing, you're not caring for your young. And you're vulnerable to being eaten.