All articles tagged with #circadian rhythms
In the 1960s, Michel Siffre's cave experiments revealed that humans have an internal biological clock that can operate independently of external cues, influencing our understanding of circadian rhythms, with implications for space travel, military operations, and health research.
A study from Germany found that time-restricted eating without reducing calorie intake does not improve metabolic or cardiovascular health, suggesting that calorie reduction, not meal timing, may be key for health benefits. However, meal timing did influence the body's internal clock.
Michel Siffre's 1962 underground experiment in a glacier cave revealed that humans have an internal biological clock, leading to the development of circadian science, with wide-ranging implications for medicine, space exploration, and understanding sleep and fatigue.
A study suggests that sitting by a window and exposing oneself to natural daylight can help people with type 2 diabetes better manage blood sugar levels by supporting circadian rhythms, with participants experiencing more time within healthy glucose ranges when exposed to natural light compared to artificial lighting.
New research indicates that chronic insomnia may be caused by a disruption in the body's internal clock, leading to a flattened circadian rhythm of mental activity and delayed peak alertness, which keeps the brain in a heightened state of alertness at night. The study suggests that targeting the circadian system could offer new treatment avenues for insomnia.
A recent German study challenges the effectiveness of time-restricted eating (intermittent fasting without calorie reduction) in improving metabolic health, finding no significant benefits in insulin sensitivity or heart health, and highlighting the importance of calorie reduction and individual factors like chronotype.
Eating dinner at least three hours before bedtime and within a 12-hour window can support better sleep, metabolic health, and weight management, with earlier meals generally being more beneficial from a circadian perspective. Adjustments should be made based on individual health and sleep quality.
A long-term study suggests that eating breakfast later in the day is associated with a higher risk of death among older adults, highlighting the potential importance of maintaining consistent and earlier mealtimes for healthier aging, although causality is not confirmed.
A recent study links skipping breakfast and eating late dinners to a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures, emphasizing the importance of meal timing for bone health and overall aging.
Emerging research suggests that the body's microbiota, including bacteria in the gut and mouth, can influence sleep quality and circadian rhythms, potentially leading to new treatments for sleep disorders using probiotics or dietary interventions. However, more robust studies are needed to confirm these effects and develop effective therapies.
A study uncovers a bidirectional pancreas–hippocampus feedback loop influenced by circadian rhythms that may explain mood swings in bipolar disorder, linking metabolic dysfunction to mood instability through genetic and cellular mechanisms involving insulin and the gene RORβ.
Artificial light at night disrupts circadian rhythms, affecting immune function, mood, metabolism, and sleep, especially in shift workers and hospitalized patients. Research by Dr. Randy Nelson highlights potential solutions like light management and policy changes to mitigate these effects and improve health outcomes.
New research indicates that exposure to light at night may increase the risk of various heart issues by disrupting circadian rhythms, suggesting that minimizing nighttime light exposure could be a simple way to improve heart health, although more studies are needed to confirm causality.
A large study found that brighter night-time light exposure is associated with increased risks of five major cardiovascular diseases, suggesting that circadian disruption from artificial light may contribute to heart health issues. The research emphasizes the importance of managing night light exposure to reduce cardiovascular risk, especially during sleep.
New research from the University of Michigan shows that human circadian rhythms are still strongly influenced by seasonal sunlight, with genetic differences affecting individual responses to day length and shift work, highlighting the deep biological connection to natural light cycles and potential health implications.