title: Delayed circadian phase is linked to glutamatergic functions in young people with affective disorders: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While the association between affective disorders and sleep and circadian disturbance is well established, little is known about the neurobiology underpinning these relationships. In this study, we sought to determine the relationship between a marker of circadian rhythm and neuronal integrity (N-Acetyl Aspartate, NAA), oxidative stress (glutathione, GSH) and neuronal-glial dysfunction (Glutamate + Glutamine, Glx).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three young adults (age range 15-33 years, mean = 21.8, sd = 4.3) with emerging affective disorders were recruited from a specialized tertiary referral service. Participants underwent clinical assessment and actigraphy monitoring, from which sleep midpoint was calculated as a marker of circadian rhythm. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The metabolites NAA, GSH and Glx were obtained, and expressed as a ratio to Creatine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither NAA or GSH were associated with sleep midpoint. However, higher levels of ACC Glx were associated with later sleep midpoints (rho = 0.35, p = 0.013). This relationship appeared to be independent of age and depression severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to demonstrate that delayed circadian phase is related to altered glutamatergic processes. It is aligned with animal research linking circadian rhythms with glutamatergic neurotransmission as well as clinical studies showing changes in glutamate with sleep interventions. Further studies may seek to examine the role of glutamate modulators for circadian misalignment.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. sharon.naismith@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Naismith
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. jim.lagopoulos@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lagopoulos
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. daniel.hermens@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hermens
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. django.white@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Django
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. shantel.duffy@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Shantel L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. rebecca.robillard@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robillard
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. e.scott@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. ian.hickie@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ian B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Hickie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D005978:Glutathione