title: Circadian phase-shifting effects of nocturnal exercise in older compared with young adults.
abstract: Exercise can phase shift the circadian rhythms of young adults if performed at the right time of day. Similar research has not been done in older adults. This study examined the circadian phase-delaying effects of a single 3-h bout of low-intensity nocturnal exercise in older (n = 8; 55-73 yr old) vs. young (n = 8; 20-32 yr old) adults. The exercise occurred at the beginning of each subject's habitual sleep time, and subjects sat in a chair in dim light during the corresponding time in the control condition. The dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO) was used as the circadian phase marker. The DLMO phase delayed more after the exercise than after the control condition. On average, the difference in phase shift between the exercise and control conditions was similar for older and young subjects, demonstrating that the phase-shifting effects of exercise on the circadian system are preserved in older adults. Therefore, exercise may potentially be a useful treatment to help adjust circadian rhythms in older and young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Baehr
authors.forename: Charmane I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Eastman
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Revelle
authors.forename: Susan H Losee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Lisa F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Phyllis C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Zee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003624:Darkness; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin