We’ve long thought that the need for sleep begins and ends in the brain. But a new study by scientists at the University of Oxford flips this notion on its head, or rather, down to a cellular level. According to research published in Nature, the mitochondria within specific sleep-regulating neurons may be the ones quietly counting the minutes we stay awake and deciding when it’s time to shut down.

The study, led by neuroscientist Gero Miesenböck, used Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) as the model species to explore this phenomenon. The team’s data suggests that after prolonged periods of wakefulness, mitochondria in certain neurons accumulate oxidative stress, and that stress appears to be the trigger for sleep.

Mitochondria as Sleep Sensors

Mitochondria are often described as the powerhouses of the cell, responsible for producing ATP, the molecule that stores and transports energy. But the Oxford team discovered that these tiny structures do more than keep the lights on. In the sleep-regulating neurons of the fly’s dorsal fan-shaped body, a known sleep center, mitochondria remained active even when the neurons themselves were idle.

This constant mitochondrial activity causes a slow leak of electrons from the respiratory chain, leading to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These unstable molecules can damage cell membranes if they build up unchecked.

According to Miesenböck, the sleep-inducing neurons appear to use this oxidative stress as a kind of internal clock. Once the ROS level passes a certain threshold, the brain flips the switch for sleep, triggering a period of rest and recovery.

Sleep Is for Repair, Not Just Rest

Crucially, the researchers observed that when the flies were allowed to sleep, their mitochondrial shape and function quickly returned to normal, a strong indication that the primary purpose of sleep, at least on a cellular level, may be repair rather than simply energy conservation.

“When these unstable molecules pile up, the only fix is to shut the system down,” Miesenböck said. “The sleep homeostat is actually looking at its own mitochondria to estimate the need for sleep.”

Shaking Flies, Testing Theories

To test whether wakefulness alone, rather than stress or injury, triggered this mitochondrial activity, the researchers kept one group of flies awake using non-harmful methods like gentle shaking or activating arousal neurons. Both methods led to the same signature of mitochondrial stress, strengthening the argument that sleep need is directly linked to time spent awake.

Further experiments showed that flies with fragmented (damaged) mitochondria in their sleep neurons slept less and were unable to recover lost sleep. However, when the researchers forced mitochondrial fusion, essentially improving the cells’ repair tools, the flies slept longer and bounced back better after deprivation.

An especially clever twist involved optogenetics. By installing a light-sensitive proton pump into the mitochondria, the researchers were able to trigger sleep with just an hour of green light exposure, increasing rest time by 25 percent.

Not Just a Fly Problem

While the study was conducted in fruit flies, its implications could extend to humans. Mitochondrial proteins are highly conserved across species, and fatigue is a hallmark symptom of many mitochondrial disorders. Ryan Mailloux of McGill University, who wasn’t involved in the research, noted the potential of targeting mitochondrial stress pathways to treat human sleep issues, as reported by Earth.com.

Previous rodent studies have shown similar patterns, forced wakefulness raises ROS levels, which can lead to cell damage and even death if the stress isn’t alleviated with sleep. A 2023 review also identified mitochondrial redox shifts as a possible master regulator of sleep homeostasis.

Implications for Human Sleep Disorders

The findings could pave the way for novel sleep therapies. If mitochondria truly act as internal sleep meters, then tweaking electron flow within sleep neurons might help manage insomnia or shift-work fatigue.

That said, targeting mitochondria must be done with precision. Drugs that broadly affect electron transport could generate excess heat and deplete energy, not an ideal outcome for patients. More targeted approaches, like modulating lipid repair enzymes or focusing only on specific brain regions, may offer a safer route.

Wearable diagnostics could also emerge from this research. If circulating markers of mitochondrial ROS correlate with sleep need, a blood or breath test might one day tell people when their bodies are approaching critical rest thresholds, a potential game-changer for shift workers or pilots.

Is Sleep A Strategic Shutdown?

Ultimately, the study challenges the idea of sleep as passive downtime. Instead, it presents a view of sleep as a metabolically driven maintenance window, one commanded not from the whole brain, but from microscopic sentinels inside individual neurons.

In aging studies, preserving mitochondrial health has already been shown to protect cognitive function. This new research ties those dots even closer together, showing that sleep, aging, energy balance, and cellular repair may all be chapters in the same story.

As science digs deeper, it appears that sleep may not be a simple “off switch”, but rather, a strategic and necessary pause, dictated by the fiery engines within us all.

Heart attacks used to be thought of as something that happened to people in their 60s or 70s. But walk into any cardiac ward in India today, and you’ll see a far younger crowd — men and women in their 30s and 40s. It’s a frightening shift, and one that makes us stop and ask: Why are young Indians suddenly facing such a big heart health crisis?

How Heart Disease Are Evolving?

Indian hearts have always been more prone to heart disease than Western hearts, but what's shocking is that it's appearing so early. Some of this is genetic. South Asians are predisposed to heart disease because of the way our bodies metabolize cholesterol and store fat. But genetics don't tell the whole story about why young people are ending up in emergency wards. It's the perfect storm of today's lifestyles, stress, and neglected health that's driving the issue.

Stress, Work Culture, and Sleepless Nights

Take the manner in which we toil and live nowadays. Long office hours, late-night deadlines, endless commutes, and the need to "hustle" are the norm. Throw in sleepless nights, irregular meals, and a perpetual state of being "on", it's no wonder the heart is strained. Chronic stress raises blood pressure, enhances sugar cravings, and fuels inflammation within the body, all of which speed up heart damage.

Lifestyle choices we don’t think twice about

Sedentary lifestyle, weekend binge drinking, and smoking are other major offenders. Hopping from the couch to swiping into the wee hours isn't only bad for your belly, it also decreases your "good" cholesterol and makes your blood vessels more rigid. Teenagers believe they're too active to be concerned, but the reality is, arteries don't distinguish between 35 and 65. Risk factors silently accumulate over the years until something breaks.

Hidden conditions that worsen it

What's most concerning is when young adults don't take seriously any condition like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Most people don't initiate follow-ups with their doctor when they are supposed to, because they feel "too young" to have these conditions. These "silent but deadly" conditions can reduce the function of the heart for years and have no symptoms. By the time you experience chest pain and/or shortness of breath, it may be too late.

The role of diet and pollution

Diets in India are changing too; traditional food is quietly fading into the background and is being replaced by processed foods, sugary beverages, and snacks heavy in trans-fats. Add to that the increasing incidence of air pollution in our cities, which inflames blood vessels and reduces oxygen supply, and now you also add another layer of risk.

What Can Protect Your Heart?

The scary part about this trend is that it feels sudden. The great thing is that a lot of this is preventable. Simple things, such as sensible meals, exercising every day, going to bed at a reasonable time, and reducing smoking and drinking, do make a difference. Routine health checks even simple blood pressure and cholesterol check in your 30s will get you ahead of any issues.". Stress reduction is no longer a luxury; whether yoga, meditation, or simply keeping the screens off for a bit, your heart requires downtime as much as your mind does.

Heart attacks among young Indians are no longer uncommon headlines; they're an expanding reality. But it doesn't have to be our fate. By paying attention to our bodies, honoring our boundaries, and prioritizing heart health every day, we can rewrite this narrative. Because no 35-year-old needs to be struggling to survive in a cardiac ICU when the issue could have been avoided by making tiny but consistent adjustments.

When people hear about “breast cancer genes”, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are usually the first names that come up. These two genes are important; harmful changes or mutations in them can greatly raise the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

But the BRCA genes are only a part of the breast cancer puzzle. Thanks to advances in genetic testing, doctors now understand that there are several other genes that can affect breast cancer risk. Looking at this wider set of genes, and not just BRCA, can give patients and families a more complete picture of their health and prevention or treatment options.

Other Genes That Matter

PALB2: This gene works closely with the BRCA2 gene on repairing damaged DNA. Some harmful mutations in PALB2 can raise the risk of breast cancer almost as much as BRCA mutations do. Wemen with these mutations are often offered extra screening.

CHEK2

This gene regulates cell division. Some mutations in the CHEK2 gene can increase the risk of breast cancer, though usually not as strongly as mutations in the BRCA or PALB2 genes. People with CHEK2 mutations may need to start screening earlier (around 40 years of age) or have more frequent mammograms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs).

ATM

This gene is involved in repairing damaged DNA. Harmful mutations in the ATM gene can raise breast cancer risk, usually to a moderate degree.

TP53, PTEN, AKT1

Although mutations in these genes are rare in breast cancer cases, they are important, as such mutations not only increase the risk of breast cancer but also raise the chances of other cancers (like stomach, thyroid, or colon). Families with these mutations often need personalized screening plans.

Why These Genes Matters

Looking beyond the BRCA genes has real benefits:

Better screening and prevention

If you carry a high-risk mutation (in the PALB2 or TP53 genes), doctors may recommend breast MRIs every year starting at a younger age (as early as 25–30 years), or even discuss preventive surgery.

With moderate-risk mutations (like in the CHEK2 or ATM genes), you might not need preventive surgery, but extra screening could help catch cancer earlier.

Treatment options

Some genetic changes can affect how a tumor responds to certain drugs. For example, cancers linked to BRCA or PALB2 mutations may respond well to PARP inhibitors, a type of targeted therapy.

Knowing your genetic status can help doctors choose treatments that work best for your cancer type.

Family impact

If you test positive for a mutation, your relatives can also be tested. If they carry the same mutation, they can take steps early, like increased screening or lifestyle changes, to detect cancer early, if it occurs.

Things To Keep In Mind

Uncertain results: Sometimes genetic testing can find a “variant of uncertain significance” or VUS. This means that it’s not clear if the mutation is harmful or not based on scientific data worldwide. These results can be confusing, but most VUS findings turn out not to be harmful over time.

Different risks

Not all gene mutations carry the same level of risk. Some are high, some moderate. Doctors combine genetic results with family history and personal health factors to make recommendations.

Ongoing updates

Science is moving quickly. What’s considered uncertain today may be better understood in a few years. Staying in touch with your doctors and genetic counselors can keep your healthcare plans up to date.

What Can You Do?

Ask about genetic testing if you or your family members had breast cancer at a young age, ovarian cancer, male breast cancer, or multiple relatives with breast, prostate, or pancreatic cancer, ask your doctor about genetic risk and testing.

Don’t stop at testing for BRCA genes: Multigene panels are now widely available and can uncover risks that single-gene BRCA tests may miss.

Get genetic counseling: A trained and BGCI certified genetic counselor can explain what your results mean for you and your family, help manage uncertainty, and guide decision-making.

Stay proactive: Even if you don’t carry a harmful mutation, healthy lifestyle choices and regular screening are powerful tools for lowering the risk of cancer.

The Bottom Line

BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are only 2 chapters of the hereditary breast cancer story. Genes like TP53, PALB2, CHEK2, ATM, and others also play an important role. Broad genetic testing can give a fuller picture of risk, guide treatment, and empower families to take preventive steps.

Knowledge is power—and by looking beyond BRCA, patients and families can make more informed choices, protect their health, and support one another.

At a recent Times Network Health Summit, a panel of experts explored the mental health challenges facing India’s youth. With increasing pressures from academics, social media, and career expectations, young people are struggling with stress, anxiety, and emotional instability. To have a deeper conversation on this Panelists Major General Vikram Dev Dogra, Dr. Praveen Gupta, Neurologist, and Actor and Wellness Entrepreneur Pooja Bedi, along with our moderator Kalpana Sharma shared insights and practical strategies for coping in an increasingly demanding world.

The Generation of Overload

Major General Vikram Dev Dogra reflected on the differences between his generation and today’s youth. “Today, young people have access to more information, more opportunities, and more distractions,” he said. While this opens doors, it also brings challenges like mental stress, anxiety, and identity struggles. Constant screen time and social media pressure make balance rare, while decision-making and comparison often fuel stress.

Mental Health vs. Mental Illness

Dr Praveen Gupta emphasized that mental health challenges differ from mental illnesses. While mental health struggles affect many young people, clinical conditions require professional care. He noted that stigma and denial often prevent timely intervention, even among educated individuals. He said, "Open dialogue and early awareness are key to preventing crises and promoting long-term well-being."

Building Inner Connections

Panelists talked about the importance of building deep, meaningful connections. Pooja Bedi explained, “Small connections are good, but inner connections, spending time with friends, joining health camps, or even regular meetups, strengthen your mental health network.” These connections improve resilience and emotional adaptability, sometimes adding years to life.

Hobbies, Exercise, and Resilience For Mental Wellness

Developing hobbies and maintaining routines were identified as crucial tools for mental wellness. “When we grow older, routines can become monotonous. Hobbies give your mind something to look forward to daily,” Bedi said. Physical exercise was described as the single most important tool for brain health. Just 50 minutes of activity a day can improve blood flow, enhance cognitive function, and protect against conditions like dementia. Combined with hobbies and social connections, this creates a strong foundation for mental resilience.

Positivity as a Choice

Happiness, the panel emphasized, is a conscious choice. “Positivity is a mindset,” Bedi explained. “Every day, you choose whether to be happy or not. Spreading positivity starts with personal choice.” She also introduced her initiative, Happy Soul, which offers courses, meditations, and practical tools to enhance mental wellness. Interested individuals can visit poojabedi.com for upcoming sessions focused on meditation, manifestation, and personal growth.

The Role of Awareness and Action For Mental Health

The discussion concluded with a reminder that mental health challenges require both awareness and action. Limiting technology, encouraging open dialogue, growing hobbies, exercising, and making genuine social connections are all practical ways to maintain emotional balance. As Dr. Praveen Gupta noted, the key lies in early detection, honest conversations, and building resilience to adapt to life’s changes.