Possible to influence disturbed biological clock
Light and physical exercise are good candidates for use as non-pharmaceutical therapies in the regulation of the biological clock. Disturbances in the clock can arise as a result of age or neurological disorders. Floor van Oosterhout defended her thesis on this subject on 12 January.
Circadian clock
Van Oosterhout focused on the circadian clock, i.e. the part of the brain that deals with the regulation of a 24-hour rhythm in bodily processes. The brain produces a rhythm with a cycle of approximately, although not exactly, 24 hours. In order to function well, the circadian clock must be synchronised with the 24-hour rhythm on earth.
Combination of stimuli
Van Oosterhout carried out electrophysiological and behavioural research on mice. In her dissertation, she describes how the synchronisation of the circadian clock is regulated by a combination of light and other stimuli. She discovered that the ability to adapt to different time zones is determined by the interaction between the circadian clock and other areas of the brain.
UV cones and physical exercise
She also found out, contrary to her expectations, that UV cones in the eyes of mice play an important role in regulating the circadian clock. The clock is sensitive not only to light, but also to other stimuli, such as pharmaceutical substances and physical exercise. Physical exercise has a direct effect on the activity of the clock and in this way influences the intensity of the 24-hour rhythm.
Greater focus on applications
Both light and physical exercise can be used as non-pharmaceutical therapy to treat biological clock disorders, says Van Oosterhout. She is not done with the topic yet. ‘In future, I want to focus on the applications of chronobiology.’
(16 January 2012)
Links
- Subsidy of a million plus for research on biological clock
- Tired from summer time
- Personal web page of Professor Joke Meijer, specialist on the biological clock (in Dutch)
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Health, prevention and the human lifecycle research profile area
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