Melanopsin: Light response, Circadian Rhythm, and Blue Light Exposure
Melanopsin is the receptor for blue light. It is found in the retina, skin, adipose tissue, and blood vessels. Genetic variants can impact reaction to blue light.
Sleep & Circadian Rhythm
Your circadian rhythm is the 24-hour internal clock that drives many important aspects of your health. Sleeping well is part of circadian rhythm. Learn about how your genes impact your circadian rhythm and how this is foundational to so many other health topics.
Where to start?
- Early morning insomnia due to histamine and mast cell activation
- Seasonal affective disorder (winter blues)
- Genetics and sleep problems: finding solutions
- Circadian disruption as a root cause of depression
Members: Check out the Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Topic Summary Report for a quick overview of all your genetic variants.
Latest articles on Athletics & Exercise:
Histamine, Mast Cell Activation, and Early Morning Insomnia
Histamine rising in the early morning hours may cause early waking insomnia. Mast cells and circadian rhythm disruption at the root.
Restless Leg and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder: Genes and Solutions
Many know the frustration of disrupted sleep due to RLS and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). Genes play a role in your risk for these disorders, and there are specific research-based treatments to explore.
Boost Slow-Wave Sleep with Glycine Before Bed
Sleep quality is essential for good health and our genetics play a role in how much slow wave sleep we naturally get.
DEC2 Gene: Short Sleep Mutation
Are you naturally a short sleeper? Mutations in the DEC2 gene decrease the need for sleep.
Sleep Report: Genetic Causes of Sleep Problems
This is a quick (Member’s Only) overview of how your genetic variants impact various aspects of sleep including insomnia, circadian rhythm, and sleep quality.
Genomics and Teeth Grinding: Root Causes of Bruxism
Grinding your teeth at night can be due, in part, to genetic variants in the serotonin genes.
Supplemental Melatonin: Immune Response and Inflammation
Melatonin is important for setting your circadian rhythm and for immune health. Dig into the details on melatonin supplements, scientific research, and more.
Circadian rhythm disruption as a root cause of depression
For some people, circadian disruption can be chronic – and at the heart of depression or mood disorders. Genetic variants play a role in this susceptibility. Fortunately, there are solutions that may help.
Melatonin: Key to Health and Longevity
More than just a sleep hormone, melatonin is at the heart of many health topics. Your genetic variants play a big role in the production of melatonin. Learn how your lifestyle and diet interact with your melatonin-related genes.
Problems sleeping? Your genes can point to individualized solutions
An overview explaining how your genes impact sleep, including insomnia, restless leg, narcolepsy, and circadian rhythm genes. Start here and then dive deeper into the specific topics.
Circadian Rhythm and Your Immune Response to Viruses
Your circadian rhythm influences your immune response. Learn how this rhythm controls white blood cell production and why melatonin protects against viral and bacterial infections.
Sleep & Circadian Rhythm Topic Summary
Utilize our Sleep & Circadian Rhythm Topic Summary Reports with your 23andMe or AncestryDNA genetic data to see which articles may be most relevant to you. These summaries are attempting to distill the complex information down into just a few words. Please see the linked articles for details and complete references. (Member’s article)
Increased Slow Wave Sleep
Find out how genes interact with your lifestyle in controlling the amount of deep sleep you get each night. Check out your genetic variants and hack your sleep. (Member’s article)
Genetics and Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is characterized by recurrent depression with a change in the season usually in fall/winter for most. Scientists think this is possibly due to an aberrant response to light – either not enough brightness to the sunlight or not enough hours of light. Your genes play a big role in this responsiveness to light.
Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Circadian Clock Genes
New research shows that depression and bipolar disorder are linked to changes or disruption in circadian genes. Some people carry genetic variants in the circadian genes that make them more susceptible to circadian disruption.
BMAL1: Core circadian gene with links to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes
A core circadian rhythm gene, BMAL1, influences heart disease risk, diabetes, and cancer. Check your genes and learn how to mitigate the risk.
How natural supplements can change circadian gene expression
Did you know that some supplements change the expression of your core circadian clock genes? Your core circadian rhythm genes are foundational to your health, and some supplements alter that rhythm.
Blue-blocking Glasses: Why? Which ones?
An easy way to improve sleep and increase melatonin production at night is to wear blue light blocking glasses before bed. Explore the research on why this is so important, and learn about the different options available for blue-blocking glasses.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Key takeaways: ~ Alzheimer’s disease is a real risk for many people as they age. It is the most common form of dementia, affecting almost 1 in 3 people by the end of life. ~ One big change we have all been subjected to is the explosion of electronics and … Read more
Do you wake up at 4 am? Genes and early waking insomnia
Seeing 3:30 or 4:00 on your clock each morning? There could be a physiological reason for this. Learn about the genetic variants linked to early waking insomnia and the connection to depression. (Member’s article)
Leveraging your gut microbiome to change your gene expression
Learn how your gut microbiome influences the expression of your core circadian rhythm genes.
Melatonin receptor gene: Alzheimer’s risk and night shift work
Shift work and ‘social jet lag’ are linked to an increased risk for several chronic diseases. A genetic variant in the MTNR1A gene impacts melatonin receptors in the brain. (Member’s article)
Insomnia Solutions Based on Your Genes
Learn about some of the genetic reasons for insomnia — and the solutions that may work for you based on your genetic variants.
Changing Your Circadian Gene Expression with Polyphenols
Polyphenols can change the gene expression of your core circadian rhythm genes. Learn how to epigentically impact your biological clock with natural foods.