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Too many Americans are sleep-deprived. Although the overwhelming majority of adults needs at least seven hours of sleep per night, 35.2% report getting less than that on average. The consequences are concerning: subpar sleep is linked to higher risks of death, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
But for a lucky few, maybe 1% to 3% of the population at most, sleep is little more than an afterthought, even an impediment. These “natural short sleepers,” as they are commonly called, need just four to six hours a night to wake up fully rested. As a bonus, they seem to be slimmer than average, more optimistic, more psychologically resilient, have a higher pain tolerance, and are even immune to jet lag.
Although there are many open questions as to why exactly humans sleep, we know that one primary function of sleep is to conduct basic structural or metabolic processes that allow the brain to function normally when we’re awake. Short sleepers can apparently perform these janitorial duties much more efficiently.
Unfortunately, for...
