Circadian rhythms are pivotal processes that enable the physical, mental, and behavioral changes an organism experiences over a 24-hour cycle. The sleep/wake cycle is imperative to the wellbeing of humans as it is the duration in which the body allows itself to replenish and heal to ensure it functions properly. Through proper sleep, circadian rhythms are initiated to provide a multitude of vital functions such retain energy storage for metabolic processes, neuronal remodeling for synaptic function, memory consolidation, and the assimilation of complex motor systems. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological atrocity in which brain cells degenerate and die leading to the memories of innocent individuals being stripped away from them. Although the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unsure, there have been various speculations of contributing factors as to why it occurs and what influences may be considered.
Fred Turek dives into the depths of how the disruptions of circadian rhythms can result in adverse physiologic consequences relevant for disease development and pathology. The circadian clock system reveals an intimate connection with microbiomes thus implicating the circadian rhythm as an essential factor when analyzing the evidence between microbiomes and plethora diseases, disorders, and pathophysiologic processes. Examples such as cardiomyopathic hamsters who were subjected to chronic circadian disruption demonstrated an increase in mortality, were provided to link evidence back to how circadian disruption affects organisms genetic or physiologic aspects. Cardiovascular disease, however, was not the only field explored. Metabolism, gastrointestinal disease, and cancer were also explicitly investigated on the effects a disruption may lead to. These findings exhibit optimistic hopes for the future of circadian medicine and how the incorporation of circadian rhythms may present an elaborate understanding of disease pathophysiology.
Similarly, Jan Homolak, Monika Mudrovčić, Barbara Vukic, and Karlo Toljan dissect the relations between dysfunctions in circadian rhythms and Alzheimer's disease, hoping to prove there in some sort of interconnection in “Circadian Rhythm and Alzheimer’s Disease.” They begin by outlining shared pathogenic mechanisms of AD and circadian rhythm dysfunctions: tau protein homeostasis, oxidative stress, vascular function, metabolic dysfunction, melatonin, amongst others. However, their main concern was analyzing what sleep-related changes they discovered within individuals with AD that provided an early onset institutionalism. Nocturnal sleep fragmentation, increased wakefulness, decreased daytime activity, and diurnal napping are significant risk factors to becoming susceptible to the disorder later. Yet, circadian rhythm is not only viewed as a causative factor. In addition, the research claimed the hypothesis of AD itself affecting natural circadian rhythms, for example Amyloid-beta (Aβ). As a main component of AD, it disrupts the molecular clock and alters metabolic circadian rhythmicity and cellular bioenergetics. Proving the relation circadian rhythms and AD withhold results in bi-directional modifications.
Overall, the research concludes on the emphasis of developing healthy habits to maintain a functional circadian rhythm and decrease risk of attaining AD. Simple sleep hygiene and environmental measures such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, daily exercise, and minimizing stimulants, are crucial. Although there is a long journey ahead on the research involving circadian rhythms and AD, these strategies and evolving groundwork provide optimism for what is to come.
References:
Homolak J, Mudrovčić M, Vukić B, Toljan K. Circadian Rhythm and Alzheimer’s Disease. Medical Sciences. 2018; 6(3):52. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci6030052
Reddy S, Reddy V, Sharma S. Physiology, Circadian Rhythm. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519507/
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