Cited by 751Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and Wakefulness ResearchSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 339 of the 340 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 18 of the 357 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Rhythms of life: circadian disruption and brain disorders across the lifespan

Open access
Logan, Ryan W., McClung, Colleen A.·2019·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

Many processes in the human body — including brain function — are regulated over the 24-hour cycle, and there are strong associations between disrupted circadian rhythms (for example, sleep–wake cycles) and disorders of the CNS. Brain disorders such as autism, depression and Parkinson disease typically develop at certain stages of life, and circadian rhythms are important during each stage of life for the regulation of processes that may influence the development of these disorders. Here, we describe circadian disruptions observed in various brain disorders throughout the human lifespan and highlight emerging evidence suggesting these disruptions affect the brain. Currently, much of the evidence linking brain disorders and circadian dysfunction is correlational, and so whether and what kind of causal relationships might exist are unclear. We therefore identify remaining questions that may direct future research towards a better understanding of the links between circadian disruption and CNS disorders. Many neurobiological processes are regulated on a circadian basis. Circadian rhythms change during development, into adulthood and with ageing, when certain disorders typically emerge. Here, Logan and McClung give an overview of the relationship between the circadian system and brain disorders across various life stages.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes evidence that circadian rhythm disruption is associated with brain disorders across the lifespan, from neurodevelopmental conditions through psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. It argues that most human evidence remains correlational, while animal and mechanistic studies are beginning to identify possible causal pathways and chronotherapeutic targets.

Key findings

  • Circadian disruption is linked to brain disorders at different life stages: prenatal/early childhood (e.g., preterm outcomes, ADHD, ASD, PWS, SMS), adolescence (substance use and mood disorders), adulthood (shift-work disorder and chronic jet-lag), and later life (dementia, AD, PD).
  • In adulthood, a study of 11,450 Canadian nurses found the strongest work-schedule–depression relationship in rapidly rotating and undefined rotating schedules; a study of ~14,000 South Korean electronics workers found shift-workers had higher rates of insomnia, depression and suicidal ideation; and a survey of ~4,000 flight attendants found they were 2–5.7-fold more likely to have sleep disorders, depression, anxiety and/or fatigue than the general population.
  • In neurodevelopmental disorders, a double-blind placebo-controlled study of 125 children and adolescents (2–17.5 years) supported melatonin supplementation for ASD-related sleep disturbances; in SMS, acebutolol reduced daytime naps, improved concentration and reduced tantrums in ten patients aged 4–18 years, and combining β1-adrenergic antagonism with timed melatonin improved sleep and daytime behaviour.
  • In later life, more than 80% of people with REM sleep behaviour disorder are later diagnosed with PD or dementia; one night of sleep deprivation increased amyloid-β in the right hippocampus and thalamus; a randomized controlled trial of 189 participants found increased daytime illumination slowed MMSE decline, reduced depression scores and reduced functional impairment over 1.5 years; and a double-blind multicentre study in 157 individuals with AD found evening melatonin improved cognition and decreased nocturnal activity.

Methods

  • Narrative review synthesizing human epidemiological, clinical, post-mortem, genetic and imaging studies alongside rodent and non-human primate work across prenatal, childhood, adolescent, adult and later-life periods.
  • Main analysis is qualitative: the authors describe circadian disruptions observed in specific brain disorders, highlight proposed molecular and circuit mechanisms, and discuss treatment/intervention implications.
  • No systematic search strategy, inclusion criteria or quantitative meta-analysis is reported in the provided text.

Limitations

  • The authors state that much of the evidence linking brain disorders and circadian dysfunction is correlational and that whether and what kind of causal relationships exist is unclear.
  • The authors note that mood disorders are very heterogeneous and that identifying a common circadian or sleep-related mechanism causal for all bipolar disorder or major depression is unlikely.
  • Evident from the text: this is a narrative review without a stated systematic search or formal quality appraisal, and several cited clinical findings rely on small samples (e.g., ten SMS patients) or preclinical models, limiting causal inference in humans.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s41583-018-0088-y

Cites

339 of 339 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

164 Not checked yet · 20 Own interpretation · 5 Supported so far · 4 Partly supported · 3 Supported · 2 Own method · 1 Not supported · 1 No basis given · accuracy not yet measured

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Show all 96 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 96
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 13
104 of 104
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Brain disorders such as autism, depression and Parkinson disease typically develop at certain stages of life.

    “Brain disorders such as autism, depression and Parkinson disease typically develop at certain stages of life, and circadian rhythms are important during each stage of life for the regulation of processes that may influence the development of these disorders.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Circadian rhythms are important during each stage of life for the regulation of processes that may influence the development of brain disorders.

    “Brain disorders such as autism, depression and Parkinson disease typically develop at certain stages of life, and circadian rhythms are important during each stage of life for the regulation of processes that may influence the development of these disorders.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The risk of depression is increased in people with delayed sleep–wake phase disorder, particularly in those with a biological circadian misalignment as measured by DLMO phase.

    “The risk of depression is increased in people with this disorder and particularly in those with a biological circadian misalignment (as measured by the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) phase).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Stable environmental schedules ameliorate daytime sleepiness and daytime behavioural problems in individuals with ASD or ADHD.

    “stable environmental schedules seem to ameliorate daytime sleepiness and daytime behavioural problems in individuals with ASD or ADHD”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from preclinical animal models are informative about causal relationships between circadian disruption and human brain disorders.

    “animal model studies are beginning to examine potential causal relationships between disrupted circadian rhythms and multiple brain disorders and are starting to identify molecular mechanisms”
5 of 5

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Metadata

Authors
Logan, R. W., & McClung, C. A.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
McClung, Colleen A.
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2018-11-20
Volume
20
Issue
1
Pages
49-65
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W2901527259
Cited by
713
References
340
Citations by year
2026: 87 · 2025: 138 · 2024: 117 · 2023: 98 · 2022: 99 · 2021: 79 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 22
FWCI
5.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • International Mental Health Research Organization (DA037636, DA039865, MH082876, DA023988, MH106460)
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (MH082876, DA023988)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH106460, R01MH082876)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA023988, R33DA041872, R21DA041872, R21DA037636, R01DA039865, K01DA038654, P50DA046346, P50DA039841)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
Keywords
circadian rhythm, circadian rhythm disruption, brain disorders, lifespan development, sleep-wake cycle, autism spectrum disorder, depression, Parkinson's disease, brain development, aging, circadian system, central nervous system disorders
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain Diseases, Circadian Rhythm, Humans, Longevity, Sleep, Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm

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