This gene encodes transthyretin, one of the three prealbumins including alpha-1-antitrypsin, transthyretin and orosomucoid. Transthyretin is a carrier protein; it transports thyroid hormones in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, and also transports retinol (vitamin A) in the plasma.
6 Surprising Signs You Need More Sleep. You know the classic signs: You're dragging at work, you're yawning all day, you're sluggish and you swear you can actually hear your bed calling your name. You need to sleep. On the days when a fourth cup of coffee is masking the most obvious signs, you might think you've won the battle. But don't kid yourself.
Fatigue is also common when you're feeling down. How much sleep do you need? The need for sleep can vary quite a lot between individuals, although it's usual to require less sleep as you get older. Children. Small children often need a lot of sleep. Toddlers, for example, need between 14 and 16 hours a day. The need for sleep slowly declines through childhood. Most schoolchildren will need at least 10 to 12 hours of sleep to be at their best during the day. Teenagers function best on 9 hours per night, but few get that much.