Scientists have identified a rare mutation in the DEC2 gene that allows a small number of people to function perfectly on only four or five hours of sleep. Their brains move through deep and restorative sleep stages much faster, giving them the benefits of a full night’s rest in half the time. These natural short sleepers stay alert and mentally strong without the negative effects that sleep loss causes in most people. The trait runs in families, and researchers hope that understanding how it wo

Einstein’s Gene Team brings together families, scientists, and students to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and the real-world impact of rare neurodegenerative diseases. In this video, four-year-old Yiannis Papazoglou and his parents meet with team members to learn more about his rare disease caused by a mutation in the IRF2BPL gene. See how this meeting inspired two of the scientists to dedicate their time to study the disease, with the hope of developing a treatment. The Gene Team