Exploring the Link Between Circadian Rhythms, Longevity, and Wearable Data: Insights and Future Directions

A recent study in NHANES 2011–2014 explores the potential connection between disruptions in circadian rhythms, measured using wearable devices, and their impact on health outcomes and longevity.

The study analyzes data from 7,297 U.S. adults collected through wearable accelerometers as a novel digital biomarker for longevity.

Five distinct clusters were identified based on activity profiles: "High activity," "Low activity," "Mild circadian rhythm (CR) disruption," "Severe CR disruption," and "Very low activity."

The findings reveal that young adults with extreme circadian rhythm disturbance exhibit higher white blood cell counts and accelerated biological aging.

Older adults with circadian disruption are associated with increased systemic inflammation indexes, advanced biological aging, and higher all-cause mortality risk.

The research underscores the importance of circadian alignment for longevity at all ages and suggests that wearable accelerometers can help identify at-risk populations and personalize treatments for healthier aging.

The study emphasizes the potential of digital biomarkers in predicting and promoting healthy aging, aligning with the concept of precision medicine. The research also highlights the need to leverage technological advancements, such as smartwatches, to monitor and understand circadian rhythms effectively.

Machine learning techniques and data-driven clustering approaches provide valuable insights for subpopulation identification and precision medicine, enabling interventions tailored to specific health risks.

Source: Shim, J., Fleisch, E. & Barata, F. Wearable-based accelerometer activity profile as digital biomarker of inflammation, biological age, and mortality using hierarchical clustering analysis in NHANES 2011–2014. Sci Rep 13, 9326 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36062-y

The study contributes to the understanding of the association between circadian rhythms and longevity using continuously collected wearable data, expanding the knowledge in the field and providing potential avenues for further research.

Comments

Light Therapy holds promise as a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease

A new article, conducted by Lili Zang and colleagues from Weifang Medical University School of Nursing in Shandong Province, China, discusses a meta-analysis of 15 high-quality trials that investigated the impact of light therapy on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The meta-analysis included 598 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, and it covered 15 randomized controlled trials conducted in seven different countries. Those trials were published between 2005 and 2022. Sleep Improvement Light therapy led to significant improvements in several sleep measures. It notably enhanced sleep efficiency, increased interdaily stability, and reduced intradaily variability, all of which are indicators of better sleep quality. Light therapy was associated with a reduction in agitation, depression, and caregiver burden among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. A significant advantage over usual care was shown in reducing the severity of psychobehavioral symptoms, as assessed...

Los no fumadores engordan menos

Un nuevo estudio relaciona el tabaquismo con la ganancia de peso, y concluye que las personas fumadoras activas, no sólo las que lo dejan, engordan más que las no fumadoras. Después de cuatro años de análisis en la Universidad de Navarra, las personas que menos engordaron fueron las que nunca habían fumado.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus may help in periodontal disease

A new study explores how a specific probiotic, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), might help improve the regeneration of bones in the gums affected by periodontal disease, especially in the presence of high cholesterol levels (hyperlipidemia). Periodontal disease can lead to the loss of bone in the jaw, making it challenging for the bone to regenerate. The researchers used a rat model with conditions mimicking periodontal disease, high cholesterol, and a defect in the gums. The rats were given LGG for six weeks, and then various measurements were taken after sacrificing the rats to understand the effects. They found that the bone density, volume, and thickness in the affected area increased after the rats were given LGG. Interestingly, these improvements were not due to direct effects on the oral bacteria but were linked to changes in the gut microbiota. When fecal matter containing the altered gut bacteria from LGG-treated rats was transplanted into other rats, si...

Wellness-uptodate

Search This Blog