Navigation Links
Jet Lag May Cause Health Problems: Study

According to a recent study, mice die early when exposed to time shifts simulating the effects of jet lag. This proposes working unusual // shifts and flying across time zones could affect health.

'While there's no indication that older humans shorten their lives by flying across time zones or doing shift work, the research does suggest there might be a potential problems,' said study co-author Gene Block, a professor of biology at the University of Virginia.

'Most people report it's more difficult to cross time zones as they age,' he said. 'But whether it's really deleterious or not, we don't know yet. And we don't know if there is cumulative damage, whether those exposures create problems later on in life.'

The study was published in the Nov. 7 issue of the journal Current Biology. Gene Block and coworker Alec Davidson said they stumbled onto the findings accidentally. In a different study, genetically engineered mice died when they were put under lights 6 hours before usual, however, no deaths were observed when the light schedule was delayed.

Based on this, they conducted a study on 3 groups of mice, each group comprising 30 old mice and 9 young mice. In the first group, the light/dark cycle was advanced by 6 hours, simulating people getting up 6 hours early, each week for 8 weeks. While in the second group it was delayed steadily by 6 hours. The light/dark cycle was not changed for the last group.

The results revealed that only 47% of the old mice survived in the first group, when compared to 68% of the old mice in the second group and 83% in the third group.

The number of deaths increased when the light was altered more frequently, i.e., every 4 days. There was no change in the stress level as no increase in the stress hormone, corticosterone, was noticed.

'Alternatively, the general frailty of older animals rather than age-related changes in the circadian system may make them less a
'"/>




Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Is Diabetes the Leading Cause of Kidney Failure in India
2. Antibiotics Dangerous for Diarrhoea in Children Caused by E.Coli
3. Paracetamol May Cause Live Damage Warns Consumer Education and Research Centre
4. Breast Cancer Surgery Causes Psychological problems
5. Arthritis Drug May Cause Liver Damage
6. Causes of weakness in the aged
7. Gene Mutation Causes Ovarian Failure
8. Does Radiation Cause Lung Cancer?
9. Chronic Diseases said to Cause Falls in the Elderly
10. Vision Loss Due To Diabetic Retinopathy a Major Cause Of Concern
11. Low Testosterone Levels the Cause Of Depression In Men
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Jet Lag May Cause Health Problems Study

Breaking Medicine Technology:Baxa Features DoseEdge(TM) Pharmacy Workflow Manager at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting 2Baxa Features DoseEdge(TM) Pharmacy Workflow Manager at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting 3Genoptix Announces Participation at Deutsche Bank 2009 MedTools Investor Conference 2Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 2Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 3Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 4Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 5Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 6Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 7Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 8Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 9Nplate(R) Data From MDS Studies Presented at ASH 10Cancers sweet tooth may be weakness 10788 1Cancers sweet tooth may be weakness 10788 2HCA Names Joe Sowell Senior Vice President 26amp 3B Chief Development Officer 61620 1HCA Names Joe Sowell Senior Vice President 26amp 3B Chief Development Officer 61620 2Knome Launches First Platform Agnostic Human Genome Sequencing and Analysis Service for Researchers 14898 1Knome Launches First Platform Agnostic Human Genome Sequencing and Analysis Service for Researchers 14898 2Knome Launches First Platform Agnostic Human Genome Sequencing and Analysis Service for Researchers 14898 3