title: Aging and Circadian Rhythms.
abstract: Aging is associated with numerous changes, including changes in sleep timing, duration, and quality. The circadian timing system interacts with a sleep-wake homeostatic system to regulate human sleep, including sleep timing and structure. This article reviews key features of the human circadian timing system, age-related changes in the circadian timing system, and how those changes may contribute to the observed alterations in sleep.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, BLI438, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: jduffy@hms.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Jeanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, BLI438, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kirsi-Marja
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Zitting
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, BLI438, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Evan D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Chinoy
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012890:Sleep / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Aging; Circadian; Human; Light; Melatonin; Sleep