Daylight Saving Time: Insight from father of CLOCK gene
DALLAS – March 6, 2017 – Daylight saving time was first adopted in the U.S. 99 years ago, a brief experiment during World War I that was resurrected several decades later. Daylight saving time starts on 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12.
The merits of the concept – originally rooted in energy conservation – are still debated today as more scientific studies examine the unusual ways that setting the clock forward just one hour can affect our lives.
Do more drivers crash due to lack of sleep? Can the disruption to our normal body-clock cycle cause more heart attacks?
As we embark on another spring of sunlit evenings, who better to address how daylight saving time affects our body clock than the father of the CLOCK gene: Dr. Joseph Takahashi of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Below are a few issues commonly tied to the time change, followed by Dr. Takahashi’s take on each:
Less Attentive
Studies have shown the days immediately following the time change can cause more daytime sleepiness and less attention at school and work. Does this affect certain people more than others, and how can this be avoided?
Dr. Takahashi: “It is likely that advancing our clocks in the spring would more affect owls, those individuals who tend to stay awake later at night and consequently wake up later in the morning. Less affected are the larks, those individuals who tend to wake up early and go to sleep earlier. Since being an owl or a lark is in large part genetically influenced, the best way to deal with daylight saving time is to be self-aware of your chronotype (early vs. late awakening and sleeping) and to realize that advancing your clock will be harder if you are an owl and easier if you are a lark.”
Cluster Headaches
Some people report they have more cluster headaches when the clocks are moved. Is there a scientific link between the two, or could this be due to other seasonal issues such as allergies?
Dr. Takahashi: “I’m not aware of any studies that have directly linked daylight saving time with cluster headaches, so it could be a coincidence. Or, it could be triggered by the slight additional stress caused by resetting our rhythms.”
Dangerous Driving?
Research through the years have both supported and debunked the idea that vehicle accidents spike directly after daylight saving time begins, particularly the Monday after the clock jumps forward. Any insight to keep us safe behind the wheel?
Dr. Takahashi: “Perhaps it might be a good approach to be sure to go to sleep slightly ahead of your normal bedtime, have an extra coffee and be vigilant on the road.”
Heart Attack Risks
Studies indicate the rate of heart attacks increases in the first few days after daylight saving time starts. Why would this be?
Dr. Takahashi: “It is now well established that the incidence of heart attacks is highest in the morning. Since waking up one hour earlier adds to stress and sleep deprivation, these might contribute to the increase.”
Other Tips
Any general tips for those of us who have a tougher time adjusting to the new schedule?
Dr. Takahashi: “As we discussed, self-awareness of your chronotype and good sleep hygiene are the best tips. To self-assess your chronotype, you can take a simple questionnaire at Munich Chronotype. You can also check out the National Sleep Foundation.”
Dr. Takahashi is Chairman of Neuroscience at UT Southwestern, with the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern, who holds the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience, and is the 2016 recipient of the Peter Farrell Prize in Sleep Medicine.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty includes many distinguished members, including six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985. The faculty of almost 2,800 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year.
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Media contact: James Beltran
214-648-3404
james.beltran@utsouthwestern.edu
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