Almost all of the organisms on earth have an internal clock generating approx. 24h-period of physiological and behavioral rhythms. The clock is called circadian clock, and drives rhythms in sleep, body temperature, metabolism and other physiological processes. The misalignment between the circadian clock and lifestyle timing is deeply associated with sleep disorders and mental diseases. Furthermore, if the misalignment is chronic, this results in the increase of the risk of lifestyle diseases including heart disorders, stroke and diabetes. The modern life environment such as light at night is related to a chronic phase-delay of the circadian clock.
View full abstract