Finding the protein 'nocturnal'

Scientists from Kyoto University (Japan) have discovered Connexin43 protein is the cause of nocturia in the elderly.

According to AFP, Japanese scientists investigated the nocturnal urination process of laboratory mice that lost the genes that make Connexin43 protein , before making the above conclusion.

Lead researcher Osamu Ogawa said the reduced amount of Connexin43 protein (usually in the elderly) will create a feeling of bladder that is always full, causing the patient to wake up in the middle of the night to urinate.

Connexin43 protein is part of the protein chain in the human body (biological clock).

Elderly people often lose sleep due to nocturia - (Photo: AFP)

While sleeping, the kidneys of healthy people produce a quantity of urine and urine stored in the bladder until morning, so there is less feeling of urination at night.

But when the amount of Connexin43 protein is significantly reduced, the muscles of the bladder will be affected, causing the patient to always feel urinated while sleeping.

Scientists say the Connexin43 protein also causes ' puffiness ' in children, because the body is not fully developed, so the amount of this protein increases erratically.

In addition, other causes of nocturia are impaired cortex, so many signals of 'urination' from the bladder, or weakened kidneys, produce too much urine at night.

The study was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, on May 1.