Circadian Rhythms 2

A self-sustaining clockwork generates circadian rhythms inside the cells of organisms. It is becoming apparent as we become more independent of the planetary day-night cycle that this internal clock has health implications. When travelling across time zones, circadian rhythms become out of phase with the day-night cycle, causing jetlag. Many live in a permanent state of desynchronisation, or ‘social jet-lag’. This can increase the risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. These lectures explore the mechanism governing the cell’s clockwork, the importance of plants telling time, how our biological clocks are set by the environment and how they become desynchronised, what the best times for physical activity and sleep are, what happens to sleep and health when circadian rhythms and sleep are disrupted, and finally what can be done to optimise sleep.