Effects of light on cognitive performance, circadian markers, autonomic nervous system and sleep homeostasis in healthy elderly men and women with different PER3 genotypes

Feeling sleepy? Go into the light!

In his own words...

The coding region of the clock gene, PER3, contains a variable number tandem repeat which has evolved in primates, with inter- and intra-specific length polymorphisms. In humans, we have reported the longer allele (five tandem repeats) to associate with morningness, and the shorter allele (four tandem repeats) with eveningness and delayed sleep phase syndrome . Findings from the most recent study have suggested that the association between diurnal preference and the PER3 polymorphism is strongest in young people (age 18-29) and attenuates with increasing age. My principal research focuses are on the circadian and sleep physiology of individuals possessing the homozygous type of PER3 polymorphism (PER3-4/4 or PER3-5/5) selected purely on the basis of genotype.

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