| Challenging
The Chronobiological Imperative
Chronobiology maps our biological rhythms.
It reflects changes that take place in our social
clocks, such as puberty, marriage, childbearing,
or career peaks. Over time, these events have
reflected “natural” rhythms. Today,
new tempos are replacing the previous natural
patterns. We often hear people talk about being
“out of sync,” and this has various
chronobiological implications. It can mean being
out of sync with their bodies (e.g., experiencing
jet lag or working an all night shift); being
out of sync with their lives (e.g., working too
much and not having enough balance); or experiencing
sensitivity to the lack of daylight.
At the beginning of the 21st century, chronobiology
has become most important as a way of “reconceiving
the structure of life.” Our view of aging,
in particular, is undergoing a whole new way of
thinking as “natural” cycles and patterns
are being challenged and replaced through genomics,
biotechnology, chronotherapy, and technology.
The change in our life cycles has direct impact
on aging. For example, the number of girls entering
puberty at younger ages appears to be increasing
each year. Women are postponing childbirth, and
they are bearing fewer children. The number of
American women in their 40s with only one child
has risen to 17% today from 10% in the early 1980s.
Having another baby at 40 is becoming “the
ultimate 40th birthday gift.” The search
for youth has become more important for men, as
younger and younger men are vying for plastic
surgery. Older marriages are breaking up instead
of lasting a lifetime. As people age, they have
more opportunity to get tired of each other, and
more of these longer-term marriages are ending
in divorce. Retirement has undergone a total metamorphosis,
as older people are working part time, mentoring
and volunteering in philanthropic and community
projects.
We are at the early stages of knowing the extent
of the impact of genomics on chronobiology, but
already we see the impact on aging.
• Genome mapping will shorten the process
of biological evolution, according to physicist
Stephen Hawking. The Society of Regenerative Medicine
was established to promote research on “the
human body’s natural ability to build, repair,
and maintain itself.” William Haseltine,
head of Human Genome Sciences, stated that “the
real goal is to keep people alive forever.”
• Structural biology is transforming into
structural genomics. Many structural biologists
focus on interpreting the biological meaning of
new information; some focus on drug design.
• The output of genome data has given us
information on causes of aging. The resulting
ethical issue is how we will handle growing potential
to manipulate genomes.
Biological research is generating discoveries
that could affect chronobiology. It is common
knowledge that people don’t get enough sleep,
and this affects circadian rhythms. Regulating
melatonin levels artificially resets our body
clocks, and melatonin supplements are commonly
used, particularly for people doing shift work
or combating jet lag.
• “In silico” biology creates
“what if” scenarios that result in
better drug application. These scenarios, combined
with chronotherapy (the timing of medication based
on natural rhythms and the disease), may have
direct impact on aging.
• Regenerative medicine, the ability to
grow new cells in the brain (employing tissue
engineering and substitution medicine), may actually
increase one’s mental potential in old age.
• Scientists are examining the genetic basis
of our circadian clock and deriving treatments
for sleep problems.
• Depression may be linked to a slowdown
in growth of brain chemicals. Depression is forecasted
to be the second most common disease, so breakthroughs
will have a direct impact on people’s health
and subsequent longevity.
Advances in technology have a direct affect on
aging and chronobiology.
• One of the biggest fears of older people
is falling. Given new prevention and treatment
options, this doesn't have to be part of aging.
There are also wrap around “smart glasses”
with wireless Internet access. Older people can
wear these glasses for everything from warning
about falling to keeping them safe to attracting
companions.
• Human brains control artificial devices.
One of the big applications of this is to replace
weakened or failed sensory and motor functions.
• A digital family portrait receives daily
information from sensors in the homes of elderly
parents.
There are new chronobiological ramifications
from the 24/7 world. People may experience an
identity lag or cultural lag from the rapid transformation
of information technology. The impact may be similar
to jet lag. Stress has a negative impact on our
immune system. When stress is managed, the immune
system flourishes and people have the potential
to live longer. The increasingly common 24/7 lifestyle
wreaks havoc on chronobiology. People are more
dispersed in time, extending activities into a
24 hour cycle. Longer work hours, increased workload
and increased stress have led to examples of desk
rage. Suppression of emotions on the job may be
stress-inducing, resulting in suppression of the
immune system.
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