Disruption of biological clocks causes neurodegeneration, early death

[Ichingcarpenter]

New research at Oregon State University provides evidence for the first time that disruption of circadian rhythms – the biological "clocks" found in many animals – can clearly cause accelerated neurodegeneration, loss of motor function and premature death.


The study was published in Neurobiology of Disease and done by researchers at OSU and Oregon Health and Science University. Prior to this, it wasn't clear which came first - whether the disruption of biological clock mechanisms was the cause or the result of neurodegeneration.

"In these experiments, we showed through both environmental and genetic approaches that disrupting the biological clock accelerated these health problems," said Kuntol Rakshit, an OSU graduate fellow.

"There's a great deal of interest right now in studies on circadian rhythms, as we learn more about the range of problems that can result when they are disrupted," Rakshit said. "Ultimately we hope that this research will be taken from the laboratory to the bedside."

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-disruption-biological-clocks-neurodegeneration-early.html



I worked a rotating shift once and swore it was killing me

I WAS RIGHT.

[JI7]

1. that sucks for me

i'm a night person. i hate mornings and just want to sleep.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. IF that is your normal schedule then you are fine

Its changing it around, disrupting your normal rhythm that kills you.

[madokie]

5. I'm right the opposite

If I'm not up by 5 am I feel I've missed the day. I'm in bed long before 10 pm most evenings though.

I notice that as I get older, approaching 64, I can tolerate a nap during the day better. Used to piss me off if I nodded off during the day.

[Sherman A1]

3. Precisely

This is something that as you indicated shift workers already know. However, it's nice to have some expert research to back up one's point of view.

[LuvNewcastle]

4. I worked the graveyard shift for years and it definitely

took its toll. Many of us who worked that shift developed unhealthy habits -- we drank too much, took too many pills, and didn't eat right. A lot of companies pay their late shift employees more because of the extra strain and because it's so hard to keep people. Sometimes I run into people I used to work with and they aren't aging well.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

6. Yep. I tried night shift again a few years ago..

I lasted 3 weeks, barely. no energy, no appetite, foggy and dead tired all the time.