Circadian rhythm

Research reveals that disturbances in sleep and internal body clocks significantly contribute to psychiatric disorders, suggesting that integrative treatments focusing on sleep-circadian health could innovate mental health care, especially for vulnerable young populations.Difficulties with sleep and our internal biological clocks may initiate or exacerbate a variety of mental health issues, according to a new review of recent research evidence.The review, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of…

Recent research has uncovered a link between Neanderthal genetics and the tendency for some modern humans to be early risers. This study traces back to the interbreeding of modern humans with Neanderthals in Eurasia, suggesting that genetic variants from Neanderthals have influenced the circadian rhythms of their modern human descendants. Credit: SciTechDaily.comA new paper in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, finds that genetic material from Neanderthal ancestors may have…

If you’re irritated by the morning people in your life, you might have Neanderthals to blame for their existence, at least a little bit. New research suggests that our hominin relatives possessed genetic variations that predisposed them to waking up early and that they passed on these genes to our Homo sapiens ancestors through interbreeding. The study also found evidence that some people today still carry that genetic legacy with them.Google’s AI Isn’t a Gimmick, It’s the Future | AI UnlockedNeanderthals (Homo…

We have the solution to Wordle (#901) on December 7, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We’ve placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don’t ruin the surprise before you’ve had a chance to work through the clues. So let’s dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday’s answer. Yesterday’s Wordle answer Let’s start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday’s Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don’t play it daily, which was “WORST.” So we can say…

A study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers found that wearable devices can predict frailty in older adults by monitoring circadian rest-activity rhythms. Analyzing data from over 1,000 adults, the study linked disrupted rest-activity patterns to an increased risk and accelerated progression of frailty, highlighting the value of wearable technology in early health monitoring and intervention.Brigham researchers found an association between alterations in circadian rest-activity rhythms and risk of frailty…

Image: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)A new study this week suggests that long-term exposure to blue light may not be so harmless, at least for fruit flies. Researchers found that chronic blue light exposure prematurely aged the flies and damaged their brains, likely due to certain metabolic changes. But it’s not known whether blue light could cause similar harm in humans, and the exposure people get from phone screens and indoor lighting isn’t likely to be worse than the blue light naturally present in sunshine.02:5710…

Photo: Patrick Sison (AP)New research suggests that kids are increasingly getting poisoned by supplements containing melatonin, an over-the-counter sleep aid. Reported pediatric poison control calls involving melatonin have skyrocketed over the past decade, as have reported hospitalizations and other serious outcomes, the study found. More needs to be done to keep young children safe from these products, the researcherssay.Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body that helps regulate our sleep/wake cycle.…