Adolescent Circadian Misalignment: Mechanistic Studies of Sleep and Light
Abstract
Circadian clocks shift later (delay) with the progression of puberty; this shift contributes to late sleep onsets in older adolescents. Early school start times, however, force teenagers to awaken earlier than their spontaneous wake time and the opportunity for sleep shortens. Chronic circadian misalignment and sleep restriction are at their peak during late adolescence, and are associated with various negative outcomes. Morning bright light exposure from light boxes can shift rhythms earlier (phase advance) to facilitate earlier sleep onset, and reduce circadian misalignment and the associated risks. Studies of adults, however, indicate that restricted sleep and exposure to evening light due to late bedtimes make morning bright light less effective in producing advances. Pilot data collected from adolescents mimic this finding, but also suggest that staying awake late in normal household lighting and the subsequent sleep restriction before and during a 3-day morning bright light regimen, can shift the system in the wrong direction (phase delay). The overarching goal of this study is to examine the dose of sleep restriction and evening household light that prevents the desired phase advance to morning bright light in adolescents aged 14-17 years. Study 1 aims to construct a sleep restriction with normal household evening light dose-response curve to determine the point at which morning bright light begins to lose its effectiveness. The investigators hypothesize that the…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 88 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Evaluating the Evidence Base of Melatonin, Light Exposure, Exercise, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Patients with Insomnia Disorder
- Use of Melatonin and/on Ramelteon for the Treatment of Insomnia in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Influence of evening light exposure on polysomnographically assessed night-time sleep: A systematic review with meta-analysis
- Use of melatonin in children and adolescents with idiopathic chronic insomnia: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and clinical recommendation
- Significant potential of melatonin therapy in Parkinson’s disease – a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Meta-Analysis: Melatonin for the Treatment of Primary Sleep Disorders
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.