Research Progress on the Pathogenesis of Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders

Abstract

Circadian rhythm fluctuates within 24 hours, affecting many physiological processes and aspects of daily life, including eating behavior, regulation of sleep wake cycle and metabolic homeostasis. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders(CRSWDs) refer to the inconsistency between the human body's circadian behavioral activities and the needs of social life. Common classifications classify it as Delayed sleep phase type (DSP), Advanced sleep phase type (ASP), Free-running type and Irregular sleep-wake type. The potential pathogenesis of CRSWDs is closely related to human clock genes. Emens et al reported finding that N24H sleep-wake disorder is an important milestone in etiology. Light is the stronges inducement of circadian rhythm. CRSWDs may due to the long-term lack of light and other external timing factors, leading to circadian rhythm disorders and sleep homeostasis imbalance rather than being driven by a disorder of the central circadian clock. Regular exposure to strong light is often used to treat CRSWDs. This paper briefly introduces the historical background of understanding circadian rhythm, and then the common pathogenesis and mechanism of sleep wake disorder with different circadian rhythms and the corresponding treatment were discussed.