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A Search For Insomnia Genes Involving 1.3 Million People is the Largest Genetic Study Ever (technologyreview.com)

In a genetic study of unprecedented size, scientists have searched for inherited causes of insomnia in the DNA 1,310,010 people. From a report: They found 956 different genes linked to the sleep disorder, drawing closer to an explanation of what causes it and, perhaps, to new ways to treat it. The study appears to be the first gene search to involve DNA collected from more than one million people. "It's amazingly massive," says Stuart Ritchie, a psychologist involved with genetics research at the University of Edinburgh. On Twitter, scientists let loose with superlatives: "Holy cr*p," "mammoth," and "Wow!" The project involved crunching genetic and medical information collected from the UK Biobank and the consumer DNA testing company 23andMe. It was led by Danielle Posthuma, a neuroscientist specializing in statistical genetics at Vrije University, in Amsterdam.

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  1. Re:Disorder? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, it is *absolutely* a disorder.

    It is horrible. Fucking horrible. People who have never been afflicted have no concept of how shitty you feel all the time, and the overwhelming frustration of laying in bed, completely exhausted, and uncompromisingly wide awake.

    The strong medications are either tolerance-building, or cause problematic symptoms like sleep-walking, or both. And of course the weak medications are weak.

    And you are surrounded by people who know nothing about fucking anything giving you stupid and thoughtless advice as if they have just cured you.