Frequent travellers, rejoice! Scientists have designed new molecules that can modify the sleep/wake cycle, paving the way for improved treatments for jet lag and sleep disorders.
The negative impacts of jet lag and shift work could be significantly reduced if it were possible to reset our 24-hour natural circadian or sleep/wake cycle, researchers said.
Now, scientists from Nagoya University’s Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) in Japan have synthesised molecules that can shorten the circadian period. These molecules act directly on one of our “clock proteins”, called CRY, researchers said.
Biological clock Most living organisms have a biological clock that resets every 24 hours, regulating functions such as sleep/wake cycles and metabolism. When this cycle is disrupted, like in jet lag, sleep disorders occur, they said. Long-term sleep loss may affect the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and nervous systems with severe consequences including hypertension, obesity and mental health disorders, among others.
