Sleep Disruption: Risks to Mood, Memory, and Health

Attention to the hours we dedicate to sleep. Altering too much the rhythms of our biological clock can have significant repercussions on our body: it ranges from the alteration of mood to mild memory drops. It happens because bad habits can adversely affect the brain more or less seriously.

The neuroscientist Randy Nelson explained the effects of incorrect sleep. The professor studied the topic for 15 years and transcribed all his knowledge in a recently published book, “Dark Matters”.In his work, Nelson explains that the human being evolved also using the necessary cycles of darkness and light. In the brain there are,in fact,cells,the suprachiasmatic nuclei,which regulate hormones,body temperature and the functions of the organs according to the stimuli received. The artificial light that we turn on at night has confused the receptors system.

The message is aimed at all those who, for one reason or another, alter their own biological watch. Let’s think of those who find themselves struggling with the jet lag as of some trips, or to the fans of the TV series that remain awake until dawn, or who, for work, remains awake at night. Everyone is at risk.

One of the most clear consequences is thealteration of body weight. Actually, there is a correlation between weight and light. It seems that remaining awake at night, using artificial light, and not benefiting from abundant daytime daylight has a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity. This is because our metabolism is altered. The hormones that regulate hunger, in fact, go into confusion, and the way we process sugars is also altered. It follows that the probability of developing hypertension and being affected by stroke or heart attack also increases.

Those who alter their sleep/vigil rhythm tend to suffer more from bad mood. The nocturnal artificial light, flanked by poor daytime natural light, can cause bad mood and anxiety, going to exacerbate bipolar disorders, if already present. Memory is also at risk: an altered circadian rhythm compromises learning and limits the memory.

Not only that. there seems to be a correlation between the alteration of our biological clock and the growth of cancer.

The advice is to try to respect the most possible biological rhythms as possible,limiting exposure to night blue light,and increasing that to daylight. During the day it would be better to benefit from maximum light, opening the windows and leaving the house. In contrast, in the evening the light intensity should be reduced. For night workers, a strategy could be to have glasses that filter blue light.