Dead tired but can’t sleep? Discover how you are programmed to lose sleep and what you can do about it.
By Russell Browne (Dip. Adv. Nut.) · Specialist in Genetic Nutrition & Methylation Protocols
Sleep Problems & Insomnia Genes – The Genetic Advantage is a plain-English guide to how your genes relate to sleep — melatonin, the body clock, and the circadian rhythm that governs when you feel alert or ready to rest. It’s an approachable companion to your variant report for anyone curious about the genetics behind a good night’s sleep.
What the book covers
Several common gene variants are studied in relation to sleep and circadian rhythm. This book walks through, in everyday language, genes such as AANAT (a key enzyme in melatonin production) and others involved in the body’s timekeeping, and how they connect to sleep patterns. It explains what the research does and doesn’t support — and why sleep depends far more on light, routine, stress and habits than on any single gene.
Who it’s for
It’s written for readers who struggle with sleep or are simply curious about the genetic side of it, and who want a clear, grounded overview rather than an alarmist one. If you’ve read our AANAT page and want the wider picture, this book brings it together.
A note on how to use it
This book is an educational resource, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Common gene variants shift relative likelihoods rather than determining your sleep, which is influenced by many factors beyond any single gene. The most useful approach is to build understanding and bring anything meaningful — including whether something like melatonin is appropriate for you — to a qualified practitioner. The book pairs naturally with a variant report: the report shows what you carry, and the book helps you make sense of it.
Explore the topic on our site
Prefer to browse first? See AANAT and the wider list under Genes & Symptoms.
Get your own variant report
Your existing 23andMe or AncestryDNA raw data file already contains these markers — no new test needed. Pair the book with your own results:
Order or view your report · Find a practitioner
About the Author
Russell Browne (Dip. Adv. Nut.)
Specialist in Genetic Nutrition & Methylation Protocols
Russell Browne is a qualified practitioner of Advanced Nutrition, Advanced Herbalism, and Homeopathy, with a specialized clinical focus on genetic nutrition, methylation pathways, and detoxification. With years of dedicated clinical experience helping patients decode complex chronic health issues, Russell is the author of the Genetic Advantage series — ten books on genetic wellness — and is committed to bridging the gap between complex genetic data and practical, root-cause clinical care.
Read Russell’s Full Professional Profile & Clinical Credentials
View the full Genetic Advantage book series
