Morning Person? You Might Have Neanderthal Genes to Thank.

Key Points:

• A new study suggests that people who are naturally early risers may have inherited their sleep patterns from Neanderthals.
• Researchers analyzed the DNA of over 800,000 individuals and found a significant overlap between the genes associated with being a morning person and Neanderthals.
• Neanderthals were believed to have lived more than 30,000 years ago and shared the Earth with modern humans for some time.
• The study also discovered a correlation between Neanderthal genes and a lower risk of depression and schizophrenia.

Hot take:

So, if you’re one of those annoying morning people who chirpily greet the sun while the rest of us grumble under the covers, you can now proudly blame it on your Neanderthal ancestors. It seems that those genes for waking up with the birds have been passed down from our prehistoric relatives. And if that wasn’t enough, these Neanderthal genes might also be giving you a lower risk of depression and schizophrenia. Who knew our ancient cousins were such trendsetters in the health department? So, the next time someone complains about your early bird habits, just tell them you’re channeling your inner Neanderthal and they should be grateful for your genetic gifts!

Original article:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/14/science/neanderthal-sleep-morning-people.html