Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder

[ausGeoff]

For a couple of decades now I've suffered from a sleep disorder that
relates to my body's circadian rhythm. Interestingly, I don't suffer from
sleep onset delays or staying asleep.

Non-24-hour sleep–wake disorder (non-24 or N24) is one of several
chronic circadian rhythm sleep disorders. It is defined as a "chronic
steady pattern comprising daily delays in sleep onset and wake times
for an individual". Symptoms result when the non-entrained (free-running)
endogenous circadian rhythm drifts out of alignment with the light–dark
cycle in nature.

People with non-24 experience daily shifts in their circadian rhythm such
as peak time of alertness, body temperature minimum, metabolism, and
hormone secretion. These shifts do not align with the natural light–dark
cycle. Non-24-hour sleep–wake disorder causes a person's sleep–wake cycle
to move around the clock every day, to a degree dependent on the length
of the cycle. This is known as free-running sleep.

My "daily" circadian rhythm cycle is approximately 26 hours, rather than the
normal 24 hours 15 minutes. (And yes, that extra 15 minutes is correct.)

In simple terms then, as an example, it means I'll be going to bed at 8:30PM
today, Wednesday, but next Wednesday, I could be going to bed at around
10:30AM, that is, and "advance" of around 12 to 14 hours in a week.

No clinician I've consulted with has much knowledge (or even any knowledge!)
of non-24 sleep disorders, and Australian research on it is nearly entirely lacking,
relying instead on overseas research which is often incompatible with my limited
local clinical advice—such as it is!

I have undertaken a polysomnograph (sleep study) which showed nil conclusive
results. Polysomnography records your brain waves, blood oxygen levels, heart
rate and breathing, and eye and leg movements.

I'd be interested to know if anybody here suffers from the same sleep disorder,
or in fact any other type of sleep disorder that materially affects their day-to-day
activities, or specifically their social, study, or work activities.

 

[Melgar]

Wow, @ausGeoff. I have only heard of blind people having circadian rhythm issues involving light / dark cycles, because of the lack of light stimuli. It’s rare that a seeing person has issues. So I’m assuming, and I‘m no expert, I just have an interest in the circadian rhythm system, there is a light stimuli issue in your brain. That must be so disruptive. Does it only affect your hypothalamus or does it affect your circadian body clocks in your pancreas, liver and muscles?

 

[ausGeoff]

Non-24 is thought to result from some combination of degeneration
or decreased activity of suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons.

And for the in-depth clinical stuff which is way beyond my understanding...

This circadian "clock" is modulated by a wide variety of influences,
including glutamate and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating
peptide (PACAP) from the retinohypothalamic tract, melatonin
from the pineal gland, and neuropeptide Y from the intergeniculate
leaflet.

Yikes!

 

[Outlier]

As someone who has worked shifts/unsocial hours for a lifetime, I don't seem to have any sort of sleep pattern. For the last few years I have been retired, so can sleep during night hours, but my actual sleeping is very variable. I never nap during the day. I just accept whatever sleep I get, but I am a very light sleeper and anything wakes me.

Not exactly helpful to you (sorry) but to let you know you are not alone and it is an okay way to be.

 

[ausGeoff]

As someone who has worked shifts/unsocial hours for a lifetime, I don't seem to have any sort of sleep pattern. For the last few years I have been retired, so can sleep during night hours, but my actual sleeping is very variable. I never nap during the day. I just accept whatever sleep I get, but I am a very light sleeper and anything wakes me.

Not exactly helpful to you (sorry) but to let you know you are not alone and it is an okay way to be.

I'm long retired now, but I believe the original trigger
or catalyst for my N-24 was working shift hours for
several years prior to my retirement. A 6:30AM start
one 5-day week, but a 3.00PM start the following week
in roughly that repeating pattern.

I also never have naps during the day, and wear earplugs
every night (or day!) when I go to bed.

Thanks for letting me know your particular sleep habits.