Disruptions to our circadian rhythm, the 24-hour clock that drives sleeping and wakefulness, affect our bodies in more ways than previously believed.
New research shows that each of our organs contains cells with their own circadian-clock genes that help bodily processes, such as digestion, operate with maximum efficiency at certain times of day.
When a person's circadian clock is thrown off—by jet lag or shift work or eating at the wrong time—it can, over time, contribute to weight gain and depression. It may even increase the likelihood of heart and liver problems.
"If you disturb that 24-hour organization, you're going to have a disruption of function within the tissue," says Fred Turek, a biology sciences professor and director of Northwestern University's Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology, in Evanston, Ill.
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