Melatonin News and Research

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Melatonin, also known chemically as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a naturally occurring compound found in animals, plants, and microbes. In animals, circulating levels of the hormone melatonin vary in a daily cycle, thereby allowing the entrainment of the circadian rhythms of several biological functions.

How bedtime screen use affects sleep in early adolescents

A study in the Journal of Adolescent Health links bedtime screen use in early adolescents to shorter sleep durations and increased sleep disturbances after one year, highlighting the need for reduced screen time before bed.

23 Jul 2024

Study links circadian rhythm disruption to obesity and diabetes

Disruption of circadian rhythms and clock gene expression is linked to adverse metabolic health outcomes, including obesity and diabetes. Further research is needed to understand these relationships and their implications for treatment and prevention.

17 Jul 2024

Disturbances in sleep patterns increase the risk of depression in midlife women

The relationship between sleep-wake changes and depressive symptoms among midlife women.

4 Jul 2024

UTHealth Houston researchers to study circadian link in severe headaches with $2.4M grant

The link between severe headache disorders headaches and the body's circadian clock in pain timing and thresholds will be studied with a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to UTHealth Houston researchers.

21 Jun 2024

1 in 4 parents say their young child can’t go to sleep because of being worried or anxious, report reveals

The findings indicate that while the majority of parents have bedtime routines in place for their children, many children experience anxiety or disturbances at bedtime and that one in five children is given melatonin to help them sleep.

19 Jun 2024

National poll highlights bedtime battles and sleep struggles among young children

Many bedtime battles stem from children's after dark worries, suggests a new national poll.

17 Jun 2024

Common melatonin use in foster children linked to poor sleep and behavioral issues

A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that it is common for foster caregivers to give melatonin to their child, and these children who have taken melatonin have worse sleep and more daytime behavioral problems.

5 Jun 2024

Insomnia linked to higher ovarian cancer risk and mortality in new genetic study

Researchers found a significant genetic link between insomnia and increased risk and mortality in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

4 Jun 2024

Research reveals light's impact on metabolism beyond circadian rhythms

A recent Nature Metabolism review highlights how light exposure or deprivation affects metabolic activities like thermogenesis and glucose homeostasis through non-circadian pathways.

4 Jun 2024

Lemon verbena extract boosts sleep quality

Researchers explore the utility of lemon verbena in improving the sleep of individuals with poor sleep.

22 May 2024

Understanding the role of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis

The number of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) is expected to reach 100 million by 2050, but there is still no effective therapy.

21 May 2024

Popularity may negatively impact sleep in teenagers

Due to a later melatonin onset and increased alertness in the evening, teenagers often find it hard to fall asleep at a time that would allow them to clock up the recommended eight to 10 hours of sleep each night.

1 May 2024

Insights on the downsides of late-night screen time and health benefits of digital detox

According to a YouGov study on sleep, 87% of Britons say they look at their phone or tablet within an hour before going to bed, with 25% claiming they look at their phone immediately before going to sleep. On top of this, 74% of people say they keep their phones in the bedroom at night.

27 Apr 2024

Melatonin shows promise in preventing obesity, study finds

Two international studies led by the University of Granada (UGR) have confirmed that melatonin helps prevent obesity.

16 Apr 2024

New review explores the key gender differences in sleep, circadian rhythms and metabolism

A new review of research evidence has explored the key differences in how women and men sleep, variations in their body clocks, and how this affects their metabolism.

12 Apr 2024

Intense and problematic social media use linked to sleep difficulties in teens

University of Queensland research has shown intense and problematic social media use is linked to sleep difficulties in adolescents.

3 Apr 2024

High exposure to outdoor nighttime light may be a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease

People continuously exposed to bright, artificial light at night may be at increased risk of developing conditions that affect blood flow to the brain and having a stroke, according to research published today in Stroke, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

25 Mar 2024

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