Circadian temperature rhythms in young adult and aged men

Vitiello, Michael V.; Smallwood, Robert G.; Avery, David; Pascualy, Ralph; Martin, Donald C.; Prinz, Patricia N.

doi:10.1016/0197-4580(86)90146-6

Cited by 146 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Weinert 2000). This finding-with percentages ranging from 13% to 40%, depending on the protocol-has been replicated in many studies (Weitzman et al 1982;Vitiello et al 1986;Czeisler et al 1992;Duffy et al 1998;Dijk et al 2000), but not all (e.g., Monk and Kupfer 2000). A bias of selection of very healthy, nonsedentary elderly may underlie the studies that failed to find significant decreases.…”

Section: Changes In Circadian Temperature Rhythmsmentioning

confidence: 66%

More Than a Marker: Interaction Between the Circadian Regulation of Temperature and Sleep, Age-Related Changes, and Treatment Possibilities

Someren

2000

Chronobiology International

286

193

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The neurobiological mechanisms of both sleep and circadian regulation have been unraveled partly in the last decades. A network of brain structures, rather than a single locus, is involved in arousal state regulation, whereas the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) has been recognized as a key structure for the regulation of circadian rhythms. Although most models of sleep regulation include a circadian component, the actual mechanism by which the circadian timing system promotes--in addition to homeostatic pressure--transitions between sleep and wakefulness remains to be elucidated. Little more can be stated presently than a probable involvement of neuronal projections and neurohumoral factors originating in the SCN. This paper reviews the relation among body temperature, arousal state, and the circadian timing system and proposes that the circadian temperature rhythm provides an additional signaling pathway for the circadian modulation of sleep and wakefulness. A review of the literature shows that increased brain temperature is associated with a type of neuronal activation typical of sleep in some structures (hypothalamus, basal forebrain), but typical of wakefulness in others (midbrain reticular formation, thalamus). Not only local temperature, but also skin temperature are related to the activation type in these structures. Warming of the skin is associated with an activation type typical of sleep in the midbrain reticular formation, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex (CC). The decreasing part of the circadian rhythm in core temperature is mainly determined by heat loss from the skin of the extremities, which is associated with strongly increased skin temperature. As such, alterations in core and skin temperature over the day could modulate the neuronal activation state or "preparedness for sleep" in arousal-related brain structures. Body temperature may thus provide a third signaling pathway, in addition to synaptic and neurohumoral pathways, for the circadian modulation of sleep. A proposed model for the effects of body temperature on sleep appears to fit the available data better than previous hypotheses on the relation between temperature and sleep. Moreover, when the effects of age-related thermoregulatory alterations are introduced into the model, it provides an adequate description of age-related changes in sleep, including shallow sleep and awakening closer to the nocturnal core temperature minimum. Finally, the model indicates that appropriately timed direct (passive heating) or indirect (bright light, melatonin, physical activity) manipulation of the nocturnal profile of skin and core temperature may be beneficial to disturbed sleep in the elderly. Although such procedures could be viewed by researchers as merely masking a marker for the endogenous rhythm, they may in fact be crucial for sleep improvement in elderly subjects.

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Section: Changes In Circadian Temperature Rhythmsmentioning

confidence: 66%

More Than a Marker: Interaction Between the Circadian Regulation of Temperature and Sleep, Age-Related Changes, and Treatment Possibilities

Someren

2000

Chronobiology International

286

193

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“…A decrease of the amplitude of the body temperature circadian rhythm in old age has been repeatedly described in rodents (Halberg et al, 1981;Refinetti et al, 1990;Witting and Mirmiran, 1997) and humans (Baerensprung, 1851;Czeisler et al, 1992;Monk, 1991;Touitou et al, 1986;Vitiello et al, 1986;Weitzman et al, 1982). On the other hand, Satinoff (1998) did not find a clear decrease in the amplitude in all old rats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

The Circadian Body Temperature Rhythm in the Elderly: Effect of Single Daily Melatonin Dosing

Gubin

Губин

Waterhouse

et al. 2006

Chronobiology International

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The present study is part of a more extensive investigation dedicated to the study and treatment of age-dependent changes/disturbances in the circadian system in humans. It was performed in the Tyumen Elderly Veteran House and included 97 subjects of both genders, ranging from 63 to 91 yrs of age. They lived a self-chosen sleep-wake regimen to suit their personal convenience. The experiment lasted 3 wks. After 1 control week, part of the group (n=63) received 1.5 mg melatonin (Melaxen) daily at 22:30 h for 2 wks. The other 34 subjects were given placebo. Axillary temperature was measured using calibrated mercury thermometers at 03:00, 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, and 23:00 h each of the first and third week. Specially trained personnel took the measurements, avoiding disturbing the sleep of the subjects. To evaluate age-dependent changes, data obtained under similar conditions on 58 young adults (both genders, 17 to 39 yrs of age) were used. Rhythm characteristics were estimated by means of cosinor analyses, and intra- and inter-individual variability by analysis of variance (ANOVA). In both age groups, the body temperature underwent daily changes. The MESOR (36.38+/-0.19 degrees C vs. 36.17+/-0.21 degrees C) and circadian amplitude (0.33+/-0.01 degrees C vs. 0.26+/-0.01 degrees C) were slightly decreased in the elderly compared to the young adult subjects (p<0.001). The mean circadian acrophase was similar in both age groups (17.19+/-1.66 vs. 16.93+/-3.08 h). However, the inter-individual differences were higher in the older group, with individual values varying between 10:00 and 23:00 h. It was mainly this phase variability that caused a decrease in the inter-daily rhythm stability and lower group amplitude. With melatonin treatment, the MESOR was lower by 0.1 degrees C and the amplitude increased to 0.34+/-0.01 degrees C, a similar value to that found in young adults. This was probably due to the increase of the inter-daily rhythm stability. The mean acrophase did not change (16.93 vs. 16.75 h), although the inter-individual variability decreased considerably. The corresponding standard deviations (SD) of the group acrophases were 3.08 and 1.51 h (p<0.01). A highly significant correlation between the acrophase before treatment and the phase change under melatonin treatment indicates that this is due to a synchronizing effect of melatonin. Apart from the difference in MESOR, the body temperature rhythm in the elderly subjects undergoing melatonin treatment was not significantly different from that of young adults. The data clearly show that age-dependent changes mainly concern rhythm stability and synchronization with the 24 h day. A single daily melatonin dose stabilizes/synchronizes the body temperature rhythm, most probably via hypothermic and sleep-improving effects.

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“…In addition to sleep timing, the rhythms of core body temperature (47) and plasma cortisol (37,38,41) have been reported to occur at an earlier hour in older people. Age-related changes in the amplitude of circadian rhythms of hormone secretion (17,25,41,42,45) and core body temperature (44) have also been reported.…”

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confidence: 99%

Peak of circadian melatonin rhythm occurs later within the sleep of older subjects

Duffy

Zeitzer

Rimmer

et al. 2002

American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism

181

117

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of circadian melatonin rhythm occurs later within the sleep of older subjects. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 282: E297-E303, 2002; 10.1152/ajpendo. 00268.2001.-We investigated the relationship between sleep timing and the timing of the circadian rhythm of plasma melatonin secretion in a group of healthy young and older subjects without sleep complaints. The timing of sleep and the phase of the circadian melatonin rhythm were earlier in the older subjects. The relationship between the plasma melatonin rhythm and the timing of sleep was such that the older subjects were sleeping and waking earlier relative to their nightly melatonin secretory episode. Consequently, the older subjects were waking at a time when they had higher relative melatonin levels, in contrast with younger subjects, whose melatonin levels were relatively lower by wake time. Our findings indicate that aging is associated not only with an advance of sleep timing and the timing of circadian rhythms but also with a change in the internal phase relationship between the sleep-wake cycle and the output of the circadian pacemaker. In healthy older subjects, the relative timing of the melatonin rhythm with respect to sleep may not play a causal role in sleep disruption. aging; biological rhythms; chronobiology; constant routine ACHIEVING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP can become more difficult with age. In survey studies, up to one-third of older individuals report difficulty maintaining sleep on a recurring basis, and more than one-half report occasional problems with their sleep (12,(26)(27)(28). The depth and continuity of sleep change with age, with a lower percentage of sleep spent in the deepest stages of non-REM sleep (1, 28, 35), more frequent arousals and awakenings during the sleep episode (1,8,28,35), and often an inability to sustain sleep for the desired duration (28, 35). One of the most prominent changes in sleep with aging is the shift in the timing of the nightly sleep episode to an earlier hour. In addition to sleep timing, the rhythms of core body temperature (47) and plasma cortisol (37, 38, 41) have been reported to occur at an earlier hour in older people. Age-related changes in the amplitude of circadian rhythms of hormone secretion (17,25,41,42,45) and core body temperature (44) have also been reported.There may be a causal link between the age-related changes in hormone secretion and core body temperature with changes in sleep. Alternatively, a single mechanism may underlie these changes. Given that the circadian timing system regulates the timing and internal organization of sleep (5, 6, 36, 52) and hormone secretion (3, 40, 43), age-related changes in this system may underlie both processes (34).One of the most reliable markers of the output of the circadian pacemaker is the circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion (2). The central circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus (20,31,33,39), imposes rhythmicity onto the pineal gland (19, 32) through a well characterized neural pathway (2, 18, 46), thus driving the...

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Circadian temperature rhythms in young adult and aged men

Cited by 146 publications

References 12 publications

More Than a Marker: Interaction Between the Circadian Regulation of Temperature and Sleep, Age-Related Changes, and Treatment Possibilities

More Than a Marker: Interaction Between the Circadian Regulation of Temperature and Sleep, Age-Related Changes, and Treatment Possibilities

The Circadian Body Temperature Rhythm in the Elderly: Effect of Single Daily Melatonin Dosing

Peak of circadian melatonin rhythm occurs later within the sleep of older subjects

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