Aging and Circadian Rhythms

Jeanne F Duffy; Kirsi-Marja Zitting; Evan D Chinoy

doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.08.002

Aging and Circadian Rhythms

Sleep Med Clin. 2015 Dec;10(4):423-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.08.002. Epub 2015 Sep 15.

Authors

Jeanne F Duffy¹, Kirsi-Marja Zitting², Evan D Chinoy²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, BLI438, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: jduffy@hms.harvard.edu.
² Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, BLI438, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

Aging is associated with numerous changes, including changes in sleep timing, duration, and quality. The circadian timing system interacts with a sleep-wake homeostatic system to regulate human sleep, including sleep timing and structure. This article reviews key features of the human circadian timing system, age-related changes in the circadian timing system, and how those changes may contribute to the observed alterations in sleep.

Keywords: Aging; Circadian; Human; Light; Melatonin; Sleep.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Aging / genetics
Aging / physiology*
Animals
Circadian Clocks / genetics
Circadian Clocks / physiology
Circadian Rhythm / genetics
Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
Humans
Sleep / genetics
Sleep / physiology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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