Authored by George Citroner via The Epoch Times(emphasis ours),

A December study suggested thatdisruptions in the body’s natural 24-hour cycle, known as circadian rhythm, may increase the risk of developing dementia.

Thestudy, published in Neurology, tracked more than 2,000 adults, with a mean age of 79, using wearable heart monitors, and found thatpeople with irregular sleep-wake patterns faced up to a 50 percent higher risk of developing dementia than those with consistent daily rhythms. Of the participants, 176 were later diagnosed with dementia.

“Changes in circadian rhythms happen with aging, and evidence suggests that circadian rhythm disturbances may be a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like dementia,” study author Wendy Wang, of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center, said in astatement.

Circadian rhythm helps regulate sleep, hormones, body temperature, and digestion. People with a strong, well-aligned circadian rhythm tend to follow consistent sleep and activity patterns, despite seasonal changes or schedule disruptions. Conversely, those with a weaker, fragmented, and delayed rhythm often experience irregular sleep and activity times.

A weaker circadian rhythm means that there is less of a difference between active daytime and restful nighttime. A person with a weaker circadian rhythm may not feel fully awake during the daytime and not sleepy at night.

People with fragmented circadian rhythms may have fragmented wakefulness and sleepiness. They may experience daytime wakefulness and fragmented sleep at night.

Beyond rhythm strength, the researchers found that timing also played a role.

Most people experience their peak circadian activity at midday, but those whose peak activity occurred later in the day—from 2:15 p.m. onward, faced a 45 percent higher risk of dementia than those whose activity peaked earlier, between 1:11 p.m. and 2:14 p.m.

A delayed circadian rhythm peak typically causes being most alert and active late at night, feeling sleepy or waking up late, and having difficulty aligning with conventional daytime schedules.

Source: ZeroHedge News