Abstract
Disruptions in normal circadian rhythms and sleep cycles are effects of aging and profoundly affect health. The circadian clock that regulates these rhythms is dynamic throughout the lifespan of mammals. For instance, rhythmic activities, such as sleep/wake patterns, change markedly with age, and in many cases, they become increasingly fragmented. Although several factors contribute to these changes, emerging research suggests that age-related changes in the mammalian central circadian clock within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus may be a key factor. The circadian output from the SCN may decline with age due to the disorganization of the neural circuit within the SCN. This chapter addresses the regulatory mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms in mammals and summarizes the recent literature describing the effects of aging on the circadian system, with a focus on the SCN.
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This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (19K06360 & 21K06363).
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Miyazaki, S., Nakamura, W., Nakamura, T.J. (2023). Age-Related Decline in the Central Circadian Clock. In: Jagota, A. (eds) Sleep and Clocks in Aging and Longevity. Healthy Ageing and Longevity, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22468-3_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22468-3_4
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