A circadian sleep is a natural, internal cycle that regulates change in sleep and the activity that the body experiences throughout the 24 hours in a day. The Circadian Rhythm is particularly important because it serves as a clock for the brain and tells the body when to sleep based off factors such as environmental cues, especially light. The Circadian rhythms are not only in charge of sleep but also coordination of physical and mental systems throughout the body. For instance, the digestive system makes use of the normal timing of meals to produce the right amount of proteins. The circadian rhythms throughout the body are connected to a circadian pacemaker which is in the (SCN) Suprachiasmatic nucleus. At different times of the day, the clock genes in the SCN send signals throughout the body to regulate its activity.
When the Circadian Rhythm is disrupted, it is called Circadian disruption, mainly a change in an individual’s biological timing. In the article called “Circadian disruption and human health” written by Anna B. et al, we got to learn how circadian disruption can increase the risk for the development of immune, psychiatric, neurologic, and even cardiometabolic disorders. Data shows that “populations in the US at risk for circadian disruption include the approximately 16% of adults who usually work a non-daytime schedule (11), the approximately 70% who work indoors (12), the estimated 99% affected by light pollution (13), and the growing sector of adults aged 65 and older (14)”.2 This shows that there are different factors that could influence a circadian rhythm disruption, however, why some individuals are not affected by the same factors as another individual is not clear.
For Instance, around one third of adult’s experience insomnia which is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep or even hard to stay awake. The genes that cause insomnia are also related to those that regulate the sleep-wake cycle in us. According to Danielle Pacheco, from the sleep foundation in her article called, “Is Insomnia Genetic” we can see that genes influence the neurotransmitters involved in circadian rhythm like serotonin, GABA, and adenosine. “Researchers began by identifying genetic markers of insomnia in fruit flies. Since then, they’ve found a large number of genetic markers in humans as well. Studies of insomnia in families, twins, and large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have found multiple genes that are connected to insomnia”.1 This shows how genes play a role when it comes to the level of effect of circadian disruption.
When it comes to the example of Insomnia one can see that genetics plays a larger role in the chance of getting it over the chance of it just being stress or anxiety related. The reason some suffer from the negative effects of circadian disruption and others do not is mainly because of their genes. Just like how some people have certain genes in their DNA that make them naturally wake up early or stay up late, there are also genes in the DNA that can make others adjust to circadian disruption easier than others. An individual’s circadian rhythm can be disrupted several times due to reasons such as seasonal change, and different time zones, but since they don’t have that gene then their chances of experiencing the negative effect of the circadian disruption compared to those who do have the gene is less. More research can be done to see how one could decrease their chances of getting a sleep disorder even when they have the dominant or recessive gene that affects the neurotransmitters involved in circadian rhythm.
References
1. 1. Is insomnia genetic? Sleep Foundation. (2022, May 10). Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/is-insomnia-genetic
2. 2. J Clin Invest. 2021;131(19):e148286. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI148286.
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