Articles tagged with Melatonin
A NASA-funded study found that people's internal clocks have difficulty adapting to non-24 hour days, leading to increased risk of fatigue and sleepiness. The study, conducted at the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, evaluated participants' melatonin levels in response to varying day lengths.
Researchers found that exposure to short days triggers immune system enhancements in mice, which last for approximately 20 weeks. The immune system returns to its non-enhanced status after 32 weeks, even if short days remain. Melatonin levels are believed to play a key role in this process.
A recent study found that women who worked the graveyard shift had a 60% increased risk of breast cancer compared to those who did not work nights. The risk also increased with each additional hour of graveyard shift work.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have identified a novel photopigment in the human eye that regulates melatonin production, which plays a vital role in the body's circadian rhythms. Exposure to blue light has been found to be most effective in controlling melatonin levels.
Columbia University researchers found that synchronizing light therapy with a person's biological clock doubles its effectiveness as a treatment for winter depression. The most effective time was 8.5 hours after melatonin onset, which can be estimated by examining the patient's sleeping pattern.
Research suggests that prolonged exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields may increase the risk of suicide. The study found a significant association between electromagnetic field exposure and death from suicide, particularly among those with high levels of exposure.
A new study published in the American Journal of Medicine challenges the notion that melatonin levels decline with age. Researchers found that healthy older adults' nighttime melatonin levels were similar to those of younger men, contradicting popular advertising claims. The study suggests that aging does not affect melatonin regulatio...
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have found that melatonin speeds up bone formation and increases production of bone matrix proteins, suggesting a potential link to osteoporosis prevention. The study used mouse and rat cells to demonstrate the role of melatonin in promoting bone growth.
Researchers found that melatonin reacts with peroxynitrite-derived free radicals, forming compounds similar to brain signaling chemicals. These metabolites could impact aspects of behavior, such as mood, with unclear consequences for human health.
NASA gave astronauts melatonin to improve sleep, but found no benefit; instead, electrodes seemed to help them relax and sleep better. Astronauts' duties likely cause insomnia, and monitoring equipment helps them see sleep as part of their mission.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified melatonin as a key hormone that regulates brain plasticity in songbirds. The study found that melatonin reduces overall volume of the high vocal center, a brain area involved in song production, despite exposure to artificial daylight hours.
The study reveals the first detailed structure of a protein involved in regulating the body's day/night rhythms, shedding light on how melatonin is produced in response to darkness. The breakthrough may pave the way for the development of new drugs to fight jet lag and serotonin-related diseases like depression.
Researchers investigate melatonin's potential to alleviate insomnia in patients with depression undergoing antidepressant treatment. The study aims to determine the optimal dose of melatonin to restore normal sleep patterns.