Disruption of the regulation of circadian rhythms is a known feature of aging. As for everything to do with our biochemistry, this disruption of the circadian clock is complicated. As a starting point, there isn’t just one clock. The brain runs clocks, the periphery runs more clocks, and they coordinate with one another via signaling. That coordination breaks down with age, because everything breaks down with age in one way or another, as damage and dysfunction accumulates. We can also discuss whether the various clock mechanisms that sense aspects of the environment function correctly in later life, whether the appropriate signaling is still generated in the right way,…
Dementia Risk Varies Between Strong versus Weak Circadian Clock Regulation
Disruption of the regulation of circadian rhythms is a known feature of aging. As for everything to do with our biochemistry, this disruption of the circadian clock is complicated. As a starting point, there isn’t just one clock. The brain runs clocks, the periphery runs more clocks, and they coordinate with one another via signaling. That coordination breaks down with age, because everything breaks down with age in one way or another, as damage and dysfunction accumulates. We can also discuss whether the various clock mechanisms that sense aspects of the environment function correctly in later life, whether the appropriate signaling is still generated in the right way,…