Chronotype ontogeny related to gender.
Chronotype is an established concept designed to identify distinct phase relationships between the expression of circadian rhythms and external synchronizers in humans. Although it has been widely accepted that chronotype is subjected to ontogenetic modulation, there is no consensus on the interaction between age and gender. This study aimed to determine the relationship between age- and gender-related changes in the morningness-eveningness character in a large sample of people. A total of 14,650 volunteers were asked to complete the Brazilian version of the Horne and Östberg chronotype questionnaire. The data demonstrated that, on average, women were more morning-oriented than men until the age of 30 and there were no significant differences between men and women from 30 to 45 years of age. In contrast to the situation observed until the age of 30, women older than 45 years were more evening-oriented than men. These results suggest that the ontogenetic development of the circadian timekeeping system is more plastic in men, as represented by the larger amplitude of chronotype changes throughout their aging process. The phase delay of adolescence and phase advance of the elderly seem to be phenomena that are more markedly present in men than in women. Thus, our data, for the first time, provide support that sharply opposes the view that there is a single path toward morningness as a function of age, regardless of gender.
Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Santo Antônio de Jesus, BA, Brasil.
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Duarte
Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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Menna-Barreto
Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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MA
Miguel
Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
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Louzada
Departamento de Fisiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
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Araújo
Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
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Alam
Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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Areas
Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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Pedrazzoli
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006803:Human Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires